Wadley Senior Clinic treats the whole patient, not just the medical problem
The Wadley Senior Clinic specializes in caring for seniors in a variety of ways. Seniors can work with the clinic’s providers to address their physical and mental health, as well as nutritional needs and more.
“It’s a unique concept,” said Darren Crabbe, director of Wadley Senior Clinic. “It’s more of a holistic approach. Not only do we serve the medical needs, but we also employ a social worker, a dietitian that does nutritional assessments and meal planning specific to a patient’s disease process. You have to know what’s going on with a patient—not just physically. You have to address all their needs, because with the population segment we serve, normally they have more than one problem.” The clinic’s social worker helps patients in a variety of ways, including helping them find financial resources when there’s a need, with grief counseling and depression screening and by helping them find transportation to and from the clinic if it’s needed. By looking at the whole patient rather than only a specific medical problem, clinic caregivers can get to the root of the problem. This results in better overall health for the patient.
“With certain disease processes, it’s like going through a chain. If someone is going through depression, their diet might not be good, and a result of that is it could adversely affect their diabetes,” Crabbe said.
Wadley Senior Clinic, at 1307 Trinity Blvd. in Texarkana, Ark., is a very convenient option for patients.
“It’s very easy to get in and out. There is plenty of parking, and we have a portico in the front for easy drop-offs,” Crabbe said.
Wadley Senior Clinic fills a need in the community.
“We accept new Medicare patients,” Crabbe said.
Often, Medicare patients have trouble finding a medical home.
“It’s a tragedy to work your entire life, and once you become eligible for Medicare, you have limited choices. We feel it’s our responsibility to have exceptional care available to the community and this segment of the population. They’re entitled to it,” Crabbe said.
The clinic has been well-received by the community.
“We’ve been very fortunate. We’ve experienced a lot of growth, and a lot of that is because patients that are just becoming eligible for Medicare are able to find a medical home and receive care here,” Crabbe said.
Wadley Senior Clinic is able to provide such high-quality care because of its specially trained staff, which includes Dr. Julia Kim, a board-certified, fellowship-geriatrician; Dr. C. Jack Smith, internal medicine; Dr. Jerry Stringfellow; Dr. Amyleigh Overton-McCoy, PhD; and nurse practitioner and Daniel Owens, a family nurse practitioner.
Wadley Senior Clinic also helps patients by providing a variety of free classes in its community room.
“Our community room is utilized for all types of educational events all throughout the month,” Crabbe said. “For example, we have a driver’s safety course for seniors and a diabetic cooking class. The most popular class we offer is Tai Chi, which helps participants with flexibility and range of motion. The only course that has a fee associated with it is AARP. The rest of the courses are provided free.”
Other classes offered at the clinic’s community room include creative writing, yoga and an adult bereavement support group. The Wadley Senior Clinic staff is committed to ensuring better health for seniors by working together diligently to address all of a patient’s needs.
“I’m really in awe of the staff here for their commitment and how they understand each piece is important to the overall puzzle. It’s a unique display of teamwork that I feel very privileged to witness everyday,” Crabbe said.
For more information about Wadley Senior Clinic, call 870773-6467 or visit wadleyhealth. com.