Scrolling through social media in search of good news can be a challenge.
However, beginning last spring, hope seemed to spring eternal from across the Olen Marshal Bridge in Bean Station, by way of a newly established Facebook page.
To clarify, I don’t actually scroll through Facebook. I spin.
The news feed on my phone rolls past like images of fruit on a casino slot machine. I am relentlessly in search of events to add to our small paper’s community calendar and I deviate, mostly, for smiling ‘good boi’ photos, ‘thick’ cats wedged into small boxes and posted TikTok videos showing containers being filled ‘to the brim’ with food items and household supplies.
I speed read while engaging in this business of scrolling. I hone in on action words and marketing descriptives, therefore eliminating hundreds, maybe thousands of connecting words in a session – I am no target for click bait. I am on a mission.
But on March 18, an entire phrase caught my attention.
“The need for healthcare in our community is overwhelming.”
It stopped me in my tracks.
The statement was part of an announcement for a family practice – Hometown Medical Clinic – that was set to open in late July.
Good name, ‘Probably a marketing ploy,’ I thought to myself. News writers are a cynical lot.
But Ashley McKinney, FNP-C, explained herself in concise terms.
“I am opening a family practice in Bean Station,” the post read. “The need for good healthcare in our community is overwhelming. I have lived in this town for 38 years (all my life). My children are in this community. The need has tugged at my heart for some time now, in which I decided to act to help the problem.”
‘Wow,’ I thought. I worried that I would get busy, get distracted, and not follow up with the anticipated date of July 25. I did all of that – but I managed to ‘like’ the clinic’s page during that initial sighting and posts would occasionally pop up during one of my manic event scrolling sessions.
McKinney had offered to mail paperwork to prospective patients, and the response must have been good, because by May 17, the clinic was booking appointments for opening day.
“We have been busy behind the scenes. Finally our systems are starting to go in and several of our insurance contracts are coming in! You guys should see signs going on the poles by the end of the month!” that day’s post read.
On June 2, the clinic announced opening day was less than 60 days out and that McKinney would be accepting all TN care, Medicare, and most all commercial plans, and that the clinic would have a reduced cash price option as well.
“We will provide on site lab, joint injections, womens/mens/children’s health exams, skin biopsy (with small removals), suturing, vivitrol treatment services, mental health medication management and regular primary care services. We are accepting ages 0-110 (since some of y’all are living longer these days!),” the post read.
I was hooked. I needed to know how this was going to turn out.
Well, it turns out McKinney has a sense of humor – which is a good thing when practicing medicine in a small town, as I have learned from watching the streaming series, “Big River.”
A slight vendor issue was documented in her cheery style on June 21.
“So on today’s edition of ‘Honey, I shrank the sign,’ our signs came incredibly small. We hung them anyway, Bigger signs are in order. We will be open in 1 month!” the post read.
By July 11 – two weeks from opening – McKinney was assuring anyone who may have mailed back a patient packet that they were being processed. She encouraged those with appointments to arrive 15 minutes early and bring their lists of current medications.
“I am completely full for the 1st week, booking into week 2 and 3. We are taking patients of all ages! I look forward to servicing my community. Feels good to be home!” she posted.
Five days away from opening – July 20 – McKinney posted a reminder to the community that she is a Grainger County native.
“My husband, children, and family are all a part of the community here. I graduated with a BSN, RN from Carson-Newman in 2013, working ICU until 2020. I graduated from Tusculum University in 2019. I have worked in the Tazewell community as a Nurse practitioner for the last couple years.”
Then McKinney revealed her true intent.
“My vow to you as your provider, is that I will always take the best care of you and your family that I can. If it is ever outside of my ability, I will get you where you need to be! I will never judge. I will always be your safe space. You can share anything at my office without fear of judgement.
“I will offer primary care services. I am also well-versed in mental health, vivitrol for substance abuse, hepatitis C treatment, wound care/laceration repairs, joint injections, IV infusions. I have onsite lab services. I block time daily to work in sick patients. I will never turn away my sick patients no matter how busy I am.”
There was a quick post at the end of opening day – expressing gratitude to her new patients.
“Thanks everyone! It was a bumpy day working the kinks, but overall it was a success!” McKinney wrote.
Then another post the day after, with a similar sentiment: “Thank all of you for your support! Y’all have been so patient and wonderful this week! We are getting all the kinks out and soon enough, we will run like a well-oiled machine!”
A month later, McKinney indicated her mission was being accomplished.
“I feel like we are making a positive impact and a dent in the community for access to quality care,” she posted. “I appreciate every single person that has supported us. Your outpouring support and appreciation has made it worth every tear and worry I’ve put into this clinic. I’ve never been more proud of my hometown and never felt more privileged to serve my community!”
The roller coaster ride that inevitably accompanies a new opening was included in an August post.
“If you tried calling today and got an unavailable message, we had a power outage,” McKinney said before offering the emergency number to those who might need it. “Sorry for anyone we had to reschedule!” she added. “It was out longer than we wanted it to be:( I did still see a few in the dark. We appreciate all of you!”
Apparently, McKinney’s humor and efforts to be considerate, via social media, of those whom she treats has been appreciated, as reflected by a patient’s post.
“..They sincerely care about your well-being, reasonable rates, this is what a Doctors’ office was meant to be. I’m blessed to have her to turn to.....”
The clinic is under the direction of Tommy Livesay, M.D. and is located 1034 Main Street in Bean Station.
Office Hours are 8:30 to 4:30 Mon-Wed-Thur / 8:30 to 6 Tues / 8:30 to Noon Friday / Closed for lunch daily, 12-1
Phone: 865-935-0136.
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