Groundbreaking held for new Trinity Clinic

Courtesy Photo Trinity Mother Frances held their groundbreaking for their new $6.3 million expansion project at the Trinity Clinic - Lake Palestine Friday, June 20. Participating are from left to right, Ray Thompson, Cune Pena, Dr. Alan Eli, Dr. Danell Stuckey, Amy Delleney, Dr. David Teegarden, Oran Ferrell, and Sister Margo.

Friday, June 20, 2008, officials with Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics broke ground on a $6.3 million expansion project at Trinity Clinic-Lake Palestine, located at 20208 Highway 155 South. In addition to offices for five medical providers, Health System officials say the facility will offer a DirectCARE, Trinity Mother Frances-Premier Fitness Center with a pool, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Ross Breast Center, Physical Therapy and a Sleep Center.

Construction will take several months to complete, with a target opening date of Fall 2009.

Providers at the clinic include Alan Eli, MD; Danell Stuckey, MD; and Amy Delleney, PA-C.

"This is an exciting time for growth in this part of East Texas," said David K. Teegarden, MD, president and chief medical officer, Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics. "Trinity Mother Frances is proud to have served these communities for the last two decades, and we are looking forward to expanding with so many new and needed services for our patients in this part of the region. This expansion is part of our long-term plan to better serve the people who live in Flint, Emerald Bay, Bullard and southern Smith County."

Courtesy Photo This is a rendering of the future Trinitiy Clinic on Lake Palestine at 20208 Highway 155 South. The $6.3 million facility will have offices, a fitness center, cardiac rehabilitation, Ross Breast Center, pysical therapy and a sleep center. Contruction will take several months, and the target opening date is in Fall, 2009.

"Because of the growth in this area of the county, the number of patients we serve from the Lake Palestine and surrounding areas has continued to increase over the last several years. It became obvious that we had to grow to meet the health care needs of these communities, " said Ray Thompson, FACHE, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics, and chief executive officer, Mother Frances Hospital Tyler. "The existing location is the perfect place to grow because it is at a convenient crossroads for those who live in that area. When it is completed, it will be comparable to the stateof the-art facilities we have in Athens, Canton, Jacksonville and Lindale."

"With the cost of fuel, our patients will enjoy having many new services close to home," said Dr. Eli. "Cardiac rehabilitation, physical therapy, sleep center and Ross Breast Center services will be available at Trinity Clinic- Lake Palestine. Previously, patients would have to travel to Tyler for this high level of specialty care. As a physician, I am very glad we will be able to serve our patients and their families with new and expanded services."

Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics includes Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler, Mother Frances Hospital-Jacksonville, Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital and Trinity Clinic. Trinity Clinic is the region's preferred multi-specialty physician group serving east, northeast and north-central Texas. For more information on services available through Trinity Mother Frances, visit www.tmfhs.org.