Simpson General Hospital Drive-Thru Clinic held an open house last Friday for the public to tour the facility and meet the providers.
Clinic Director Michell Batton explained that the clinic was just now able to host an open house due to the public health emergency of Covid.
The SGH Drive-Thru began as a means to an end when the Covid pandemic hit, providing minimal exposure to all parties for testing purposes. Since then the drive-thru has become a typical medical clinic providing the same care as one would receive in a stand-alone clinic.
Batton said, “Due to the public health emergency it wasn’t recommended that we be social, but now we can be social. And we wanted the public to have an opportunity to see how beautiful the inside of the clinic is and make sure they understand that Monica (Blakley) is our provider.”
Batton stressed that SGH Drive-Thru Clinic is not only a Covid clinic, but now is a full-service clinic. She described it as “a clinic with the convenience of a drive thru.” She said all of the clinics offer walk in service, but there you drive in. Batton explained that most assessments can be done from the comfort of the vehicle.
Batton said, “We assess you from the vehicle. We get your insurance information, blood pressure, temperature. We can do your flu, strep, covid swab— whatever you need.”
She explained that exam rooms are available if necessary and the clinic also takes appointments.
Monica Blakley, FNP-BC, is a healthcare provider with a servant heart and attitude. She has been with SGH full-time since January and is happy to join the community.
Blakley said, “Everyone here in Simpson County has been super nice and accepting. It’s a small-town feel. I come from small town, and I like the sense of community and knowing everybody.”
Blakley said the clinic is taking new patients and can serve as primary care, but they are also able to fill in the gaps when patients are not able to make it to their primary care provider. She said the clinic can provide whatever the patient needs, and most of it can be addressed in the car.
The SGH Drive-Thru Clinic is now offering DOT Exams in addition to the following services: hypertension treatment, diabetes treatment, annual wellness exams, sports physicals, upper respiratory infection treatment, smoking cessation, and women’s services.
The clinic is located at 1827A Simpson Highway 149, Mendenhall, MS, and can be reached at 601-847-8304.
