FEATURED COVER STORY
The Ready Clinic Provides Personalized Care
B
ecoming a nurse practitioner was only the first
All three clinics offer routine medical care as well as
goal toward her lifelong dream of owning her own
walk-in care for sick patients. They offer DOT physicals,
business. Opening her own clinic was the real dream
sports/school physicals, med refills, wellness exams, and
Leslie Weaver had in mind when she started that journey.
weight loss. All nurse practitioners are certified in BioTe
“I like to think that my entrepreneurial spirit came from my
hormone replacement therapy for men and women. Most
dad, who I remember had many business ventures while
commercial insurance is accepted as well as Medicare. Self-
I was growing up,” Leslie said. “He was always doing
pay/cash patients can be seen starting at $65.
something exciting with his jobs, and many times, it would
If you are looking to see a medical doctor for your care,
involve the whole family. He was a risk-taker. Sometimes
the Ready Clinic is not the place to go. The clinics are all
his business wouldn’t do so well, but oftentimes, it would.
staffed with NPs. Healthcare providers are Leslie Weaver,
Most importantly, he never got discouraged, and he never
FNP-C, Leila Clark, FNP-C, Sarah Harris, FNP-C, Donna
gave up on his dreams.”
“Betsye” Gass, FNP-C, Kendra Keith, FNP-C, and Jennifer
Keeping true to his example, Leslie and her husband,
Gibbs, FNP-BC. While some patients may choose to see a
Wayne, decided to open the Ringgold Ready Clinic in July
physician, there are just as many who prefer to see an NP. “I
2016. The Ringgold clinic is located downtown beside Price
think some patients like nurse practitioners because we are
Ringgold Drug. The community quickly embraced them,
good listeners,” said Leslie. “We take our time with patients,
and they soon realized they needed to expand the space
and we don’t rush in and out.”
and add additional nurse practitioners. Fast forward three
Nurse practitioners in the state of Georgia are required
years and the clinic has now grown to six nurse practitioners
to have a collaborative agreement with a physician for
and three clinics in Ringgold, Flintstone, and the newest
oversight, but the physicians are not required to be present.
addition, opening in Lafayette on March 2.
Leslie said, “We have a great relationship with our three
22 // March 2020
