Expanding Access

Community Initiatives Project Manager

The organization as a whole remained committed to connecting communities to health every day, in every way. While the future of the pandemic is uncertain, patients know they can continue to count on Legacy to show unwavering courage and commitment to providing Avenue Community Development Corporation

Thanks to the generosity of foundations, corporations, private donors and Legacy employees, the new Legacy Southwest clinic was opened in December 2019 in Gulfton, one of Houston’s most diverse and underserved neighborhoods. The 33,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility replaces the original Legacy Southwest clinic, which could no longer meet the growing health care needs of the neighborhood. The new Legacy Southwest offers Adult Medicine, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Public Health services, and Eligibility and Social Services. Walk-in Clinic services are also available for Obstetrics and Pediatrics. This innovative campus provides health care to approximately 400 patients a day. In June 2020, Legacy opened an adjoining pharmacy to support the growing pharmacy needs of Legacy and non-Legacy patients including filling and refilling prescriptions, free medication delivery, one-on-one medication counseling, health coaching, and vaccinations and immunizations. With the opening of the clinic and pharmacy, Legacy has built a one-stop shop of high-quality health care services available to Gulfton community members regardless of the ability to pay and without judgment.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Evelyn Boeckmann became concerned when her son Oliver developed a cough. With COVID-19 very much on her mind, she attended an appointment at Legacy Community Health’s Pediatric Southwest Walk-In Clinic. Dr. Yong Han saw Oliver and helped him get the treatment he needed.

“Everyone was very nice and we didn’t have to wait long to see Dr. Han,” said Boeckmann. “Any worries I had about the virus quickly disappeared. The staff wore masks and disinfected after each patient.” The Legacy Southwest Pediatric Walk-In Clinic opened in 2019 to offer comprehensive services to patients and their families through flexible hours, minimal wait times and convenience of care. Located in Houston’s diverse Gulfton neighborhood, the clinic is staffed seven days a week and patients between the ages of newborn to 18 years old get care for a multitude of illnesses and conditions. Boeckmann’s children get much of their health care through Legacy’s school-based clinics at KIPP Connect. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Legacy Southwest Pediatric Walk-In Clinic proved to be the right option at the right time. “The care my son got was amazing. I had no doubt that Legacy made his health and well-being a priority during this stressful time,” said Boeckmann.

Putting food on the table has long been a struggle for Lia Wilson. She is legally blind and disability benefits only go so far. However, a visit to her Legacy provider last year helped change that. “I remember my doctor asking me several questions about my living conditions. That appointment eventually led me to the Legacy Health Advocates program,” said Wilson.

At a routine visit with her Legacy provider, Wilson met Legacy Health Advocate Interns Christine Townsend and Tiara Flowers. They located several food pantries around Houston to help her get the food assistance she needed. Legacy’s Health Advocate program was created in 2018 to screen patients for social determinants of health—the conditions in which people are born into, grow and live every day—that affect their overall health and well-being. At Legacy, patients are screened specifically for food, housing, transportation and financial insecurities, which refers to rental and utility assistance. Legacy Health Advocates work with patients to locate community resources to address their needs. Since Wilson is visually impaired, she must take the bus to visit food pantries each month. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant longer waits for her rides. However, that has not dampened her spirits. “If it wasn’t for the resources Legacy helped me find, I wouldn’t be able to eat,” said Wilson. “So, it means a lot to me that there are places like Legacy that really care about their patients.”