By: Kim Huges
Houston Chronicle Correspondent

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward now have access to a full-
service health-care facility, as Legacy Community Health
Services recently opened a clinic at 5602 Lyons Ave. More
than 1,000 community members attended the grand opening
ceremony on Sept. 30. Jo Carcedo, Director of Development,
said this is Legacy's third clinic, with one at 215 Westheimer
and another at 3311 Richmond Ave. "We had a significant
number of patients from the Fifth Ward area going for services
at the Westheimer location," Carcedo said. "We saw this as
an opportunity to have them be seen in their own neighborhood.
It made sense for us to be in that community." The clinic offers
wellness exams, family planning services and full laboratory
services and offers mental health and social services.
While they accept Medicare, Medicaid and various private
insurance plans, they also operate on a sliding-fee scale.
"Twenty-eight percent of people living in that service area are
below the family poverty level, which for a family of four is
$32,000," Carcedo said. The clinic, open Monday to Friday
from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., is seeing an average of 15 patients a day
"So far the most common health issues people have come
in with are hypertension, diabetes, obesity and heart disease",
said Jay Slemmer, a registered nurse and associate Executive
Director for Legacy Community Health Services. Ernest McMillan, Executive Director of the Fifth Ward Enrichment Program, said he's glad to welcome Legacy. "They are making themselves accessible to the community, and providing an opportunity for residents to have a medical home," said McMillan.

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