Crystal Beach Medical Clinic Opens, New Location

November 19, 2008 - 6:10 PM

A medical clinic has reopened in Crystal Beach, and it's another sign the Bolivar Peninsula is trying to recover from hurricane Ike.

But, you might be surprised at where the clinic is located on Crystal Beach.

They're using cell phones,and they've changed more than the phone number.

"It's a little compact. Go from 2200 square feet to 39 square feet," says Bruce Mitchell with Crystal Beach Medical Clinic.

The address has changed and the Crystal Beach Medical Clinic has moved to this R.V. for now.

After more than two months, Physician's Assistant Bruce Mitchell and his staff once again opened their doors to people on the Bolivar Peninsula.

"The patients will come back here. When they're down here working, need someone here. For 16 years they were good to me, now it's my turn to be good to them," says Mitchell.

In order to do that, Mitchell used $30,000 of his own money for the trailer and plans to do renovations to his beach house.

There will be two exam rooms, an office, waiting room, even a pharmacy.

"I think it's part of the infrastructure we need here. Medical help from him number one and then the pharmacy service," says Gayle Johnston, owner of J&J Pharmacy.

"That kind of equipment is critical access equipment," says Mitchell.

Supplies that were lost in Ike's surge. Most have been replaced, except the paperwork.

"It's just overwhelming, resetting everything back up, just takes time," says Mitchell.

"All we need is walls and shelves and countertops," says Johnston.

It's a work in progress, for returning residents who need someone to listen to their symptoms.

"My idea here is, people need it. I feel like I owe them back, I really do," says Mitchell.

The owners hope to move the clinic from the R.V. trailer to the house by the first of the year.

The clinic is now located at 955 S. East Street, just behind the Seaside Lumber building.