Windham – A new primary care medical facility has come to fill a void in the underserved community of Windham. MyChoice® Medical Clinic will host an open house on Friday, October 26 at 9621 East Center Street to acquaint community members with their services, medical professionals and team members. Refreshments and games for the kids will be provided.
Working in cooperation with village officials including the fire/EMS department and Mayor Deborah Blewitt, Portage County resident and business owner Ruth Skocic owns and operates this multi-specialty medical group practice. Occupying the newly-renovated former municipal building down the street from the fire station, the MyChoice® Medical Clinic is the second facility for Skocic to establish in the Portage-Geauga region. In addition to the medical clinic services, MyChoice® patients also have access to Advance Care Education, Advance Care Planning services and other healthcare education services.
“We are answering the call to fill the vacuum in rural communities throughout the region,” Skocic says. “I tried for 11 years to enter into Portage County. We are thankful that Windham — the largest village in the county — was willing to take a chance on us. Considering the support we have received surrounding our move into the community, residents now have new hope for the future. I am excited to collaborate with village leaders and help lead the initiative to revitalize this community. It’s a great environment for any new business.”
Mayor Blewitt enthusiastically agrees. “This means growth,” she says. “The clinic will bring in non-residents who will recognize that this is a nice little community with a restaurant, a pharmacy, a hardware store, and now a medical clinic. Ruth is a go-getter and she believes in our community. She is an agent of increase.”
As evidence of the trust she has invested in the new clinic, Blewitt says, “I actually switched to Ruth’s office myself. I’d much rather go to the doctor’s office in my home town.”
The MyChoice® mission does not come from corporate mindset. Instead, as Skocic explains, “MyChoice® Medical Clinic is dedicated to providing patient-centered care by forming personal patient-provider relationships. Patient-centered care means that we take the time to listen, to inform and to involve our patients in their care. We provide respectful care based on the individual’s needs, values and preferences. Our mission is to ensure that we provide exceptional healthcare services to those who need it most, regardless of who you are and no matter when the need arises.”
The Windham clinic is open from 9am to 5 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hours will be extended as demand increases. MyChoice® staff includes collaborating physicians, nurse practitioners, case managers, and medical assistants. The medical group cares for patients 18 months and older. Book appointments by calling (330) 326-6193; or online at customerservice@mylifeplaninc.com. Visit MyChoiceSolutions.org for more information, including accepted insurance plans. MyChoice® also provides in-home health and wellness checks to adults in the community who are homebound due to special needs. Those interested in receiving a home visit should call to schedule an appointment.
“What’s difficult but possible is changing the culture of this community,” Skocic says. “It all starts with hope.”
