This is the first in a series concerning resources available to Wood County residents.

While several variations of summer bugs are going around, citizens of Wood County and beyond are looking for medical resources and relief. Here are some of the local, cost-mindful resources available to help Wood County residents with health-related needs.

Grace Community

Healthcare Ministry

This faith-based, non-profit organization is based in Mineola. Although they are a faith-based organization, they serve people of any belief. Their staff is made up of active and retired medical and social services personnel, all of whom are volunteers. With a creed of “extend(ing) Help, Hope, and Healing to the whole person while maintaining individual dignity,” GCHM offers services such as office visits, lab services and medication assistance. They offer their services based on their vision of being “a tangible outpouring of God’s love, offering both the opportunity for healing of the whole person and a spark for community change.” GCHM operates based on a sliding pay scale, where costs are extremely reduced and, in case of inability to pay, patients can “pay” some of their fees with community service.

Hope Pregnancy Center

Hope Pregnancy Center offer services for women who are pregnant or potentially pregnant, such as pregnancy tests, counseling for mothers and fathers, ultrasounds with a licensed sonographer and donations of material items. According to their website, “All services are free and confidential.” Clients are free to walk-in for appointments at their office in Canton, but Hope Pregnancy Center prefers that they make an appointment beforehand. The center is a faith-based, non-profit organization.

Longview Care Clinic

While the Longview Care Clinic is not located in Wood County, the services they offer are worth mentioning. In addition to providing primary care and behavioral health-related services, the Longview Care Clinic “specialize(s)” in affordable dentistry. According to their Facebook page, “We see everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. All patients are welcome, regardless of income and immigration status.” They offer services such as “cleanings, fillings, crowns, extractions, bridges, root canals and X-rays.” They also accept many forms of insurance.

Northeast Texas Public Health District

This organization, based in Tyler, serves Wood and surrounding counties. It offers many health resources, including free back-to-school immunizations, farmer’s market produce vouchers for women and children under the WIC program, diabetes education classes, and more.

Paula Thomas, the Wood County representative for NETHealth, teaches Wood County locals emergency preparedness skills and is planning on providing free diabetes education classes in the spring of 2025. Anyone interested in learning how they can be more prepared for emergencies is welcome to call Thomas at 903-571-3469. Visit mynethealth.org for more info.

HOPE Digital Mobile 

Mammography Unit

UT Health’s Digital Mobile Mammography unit travels around Wood County, Smith County and beyond to ensure that all women, regardless of location or transportation, are able to access the healthcare they need. The mobile unit travels to Wood County monthly and offers services such as 3-D mammography and DBT.

According to Regina Davis, an employee at the UT Breast Care Center, 99% of insurance providers completely cover the cost of the appointment. If patients are not insured, Davis recommends that they call the Primary Healthcare Program at 903-877-8185 to secure a grant covering the cost. Patients are able to self-pay for a total of $150, but Davis says that they “strongly encourage” patients to call and secure the grant instead.

“If you can get the grant, why pay for it yourself?” she said.

To schedule an appointment, call 903-531-8890; to verify the dates that the mobile unit will be in your area, visit the Breast Care Center’s website at https://uthealtheasttexas.com/services/breast-care. 

County Indigent Health Care Program

Texas counties are required by law to provide certain funds for health care for indigent citizens. The program provides a pathway for “low-income Texas residents who don’t qualify for other state or federal health care” to access medical healthcare at a low cost. Services include vaccines, medical screening services, yearly physicals, hospital visits, and much more. Interested parties must apply in order to be included in this program; to receive an application, contact the CIHCP Administrative Officer at scabe@mywoodcounty.com, or call at 903-763-4956. More information is available at https://www.mywoodcounty.com/page/ihc.

Traditional medical outlets such as the UT Health Hospital and Emergency Room in Quitman, the UT Health East Texas Urgent Care center in Mineola, and CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital and Emergency Room in Winnsboro are of course always available to help with medical emergencies. For more information on other local resources, visit findhelp.org or 211texas.org.

Note: The Wood County Monitor takes no responsibility for patient eligibility at these institutions; we are simply providing resources available in the area.