Lamar Family Care celebrates grand opening
Dr. Alex Cohen and Genesis Health Care CEO Tony Megna cut the ribbon for the new Lamar Family Care facility.
Photos by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Residents of the Lamar area have a new and conveniently local option for medical care. On Thursday, August 4, Genesis Health Care and the Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce teamed for a grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting to formally introduce Lamar Family Care to the community.
New patients and their families toured the clinical facility, located at 301 W. Main Street in downtown Lamar, and then enjoyed popcorn, hot dogs, sno-cones, inflatables, and games during the day-long event.
“We’re extremely excited to be part of the community. Lamar has become a very special part of our organization and we are committed to being here for a long time,” said Genesis Health Care CEO Tony Megna, speaking to guests just prior to the ribbon cutting. “I understand that Lamar has had a little bit of difficulty maintaining a physician presence and medical presence in a continuous way, and we’re going to provide that. Everybody is welcome.”
Many patients traveled to the Lamar Family Care grand opening on buses operated by Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority (PDRTA), which includes Lamar in Monday bus routes to and from Darlington and Timmonsville. Genesis Health Care patients can ride PDRTA buses to their Genesis doctor’s offices for free, just by presenting their patient ID card.
Megna said he was proud of Genesis’ relationship with PDRTA, noting that their sponsorship of bus routes enables many Darlington County residents without transportation to get around town, do errands, and see their physicians. He stressed that Genesis is dedicated to providing quality health care to patients regardless of their income level, and they are uniquely positioned to serve patients with costly prescriptions.
“We are a little bit different. We are what’s called a Federally Qualified Health Center… and you as patients have special opportunities,” said Megna, touting Genesis’ ability to provide name-brand medications at affordable prices through their in-house pharmacies. “You can have prescription medications at prices almost everybody can afford.”
With the Lamar Family Care addition, Genesis now operates four facilities locally, including their Florence clinic, Pee Dee Health Care of Darlington, and Olanta Family Care. To learn more or to make an appointment, call (843) 395-8400.