The Ready Clinic Provides Personalized Care

22 // March 2020 The Ready Clinic Provides Personalized Care B ecoming a nurse practitioner was only the first goal toward her lifelong dream of owning her own business. Opening her own clinic was the real dream Leslie Weaver had in mind when she started that journey. “I like to think that my entrepreneurial spirit came from my dad, who I remember had many business ventures while I was growing up,” Leslie said. “He was always doing something exciting with his jobs, and many times, it would involve the whole family. He was a risk-taker. Sometimes his business wouldn’t do so well, but oftentimes, it would. Most importantly, he never got discouraged, and he never gave up on his dreams.”

Keeping true to his example, Leslie and her husband, Wayne, decided to open the Ringgold Ready Clinic in July 2016. The Ringgold clinic is located downtown beside Price Ringgold Drug. The community quickly embraced them, and they soon realized they needed to expand the space and add additional nurse practitioners. Fast forward three years and the clinic has now grown to six nurse practitioners and three clinics in Ringgold, Flintstone, and the newest addition, opening in Lafayette on March 2. All three clinics offer routine medical care as well as walk-in care for sick patients. They offer DOT physicals, sports/school physicals, med refills, wellness exams, and weight loss. All nurse practitioners are certified in BioTe hormone replacement therapy for men and women. Most commercial insurance is accepted as well as Medicare. Selfpay/cash patients can be seen starting at $65.

If you are looking to see a medical doctor for your care, the Ready Clinic is not the place to go. The clinics are all staffed with NPs. Healthcare providers are Leslie Weaver, FNP-C, Leila Clark, FNP-C, Sarah Harris, FNP-C, Donna “Betsye” Gass, FNP-C, Kendra Keith, FNP-C, and Jennifer Gibbs, FNP-BC. While some patients may choose to see a physician, there are just as many who prefer to see an NP. “I think some patients like nurse practitioners because we are good listeners,” said Leslie. “We take our time with patients, and we don’t rush in and out.”

Nurse practitioners in the state of Georgia are required to have a collaborative agreement with a physician for oversight, but the physicians are not required to be present. Leslie said, “We have a great relationship with our three

physicians, and they are always available to us if we need them. I think what matters most with any healthcare provider is that they have the knowledge to know the important information, wisdom to know when to consult with someone else, and that they care enough to do something about it.” While NPs are not required to attend medical school like physicians, they have all completed nursing school and graduate education, including internships with licensed medical providers. In addition, most NPs have many years of experience as an RN prior to going to NP school. According to Leslie, “Classroom education is essential, but much of the knowledge I have and use on a daily basis is from my 25-plus years’ experience as a nurse.”

When asked what makes the Ready Clinic different, Leslie sums it up with what she calls the three “C’s.” The first is Caring. “We really care about our patients. We care if they get well, but we also care that they have a good experience at our clinics. We strive to hire only the best people. We have the cream of the crop when it comes to our staff. Friendliness and integrity are very important to our reputation, and our employees all have those qualities.” A patient satisfaction survey is sent to patients via text after every visit to ensure that they felt taken care of. In addition, sick patients are contacted several days after their visit to check on them and see if they need anything else. Cleanliness is another priority at Ready Clinic. “I feel like a healthcare facility should be neat and clean. No one wants to feel contaminated when they leave a medical office,” Leslie said.

Lastly, Compassion is really what it’s all about at their offices. Most of the clinic’s nurse practitioners live in the communities where they work and have a genuine concern about the health of their fellow citizens. “We want our patients to feel like family, and we want them treated that way. You will always be greeted with a smile when you enter and when you leave, and every clinic has a complimentary coffee bar while you wait. We know that many patients feel bad when they come to see us, so we want their experience to be as pleasant as it can be while they are here.”

Short wait times are something else the clinic prides itself on. Satisfaction surveys show most wait times are fewer than 15 minutes. In addition, calls are made to all patients promptly after tests and labs. The clinic will always contact you personally to go over results rather than send a letter or have you assume that all is normal if you are not contacted.

Wayne and Leslie attribute most of the Ready Clinic’s success to their employees. We have the best NPs, medical assistants, and office staff you will ever find. People come to see us because they love our people. When asked if she worries about competing with the larger chain clinics or hospital-owned facilities, Leslie says that she doesn’t let it bother her one bit. “I have come to realize that being associated with a hospital or large corporation is really not what’s important to patients,” she said. “Patients just want to know that you can do your job and that you can do it well. Our clinics are able to provide great care with a more personal experience, and often at a lower cost to patients. They appreciate that.”

Based on patient satisfaction and growth, their business is succeeding just fine. They have been awarded North Georgia’s Best of the Best for 2018 and 2019 and this year, they have won 1st place for Walk In Clinic and 1st place for Urgent Care. They were also a finalist for best weight loss and best general practice doctor. For more information, contact the clinic directly or visit their website at readyclinic.org.

Ringgold: 706-935-3600 Flintstone: 706-841-7700 Lafayette:706-620-0200