ETMC clinic in Seven Points passes health department inspection
Special to The Monitor
SEVEN POINTS–When the Texas Department of Health and Human Services comes walking into a medical clinic, it is, to put it mildly, “a major deal.”
At least those were the succinct words of Kati Eubank, manager of the ETMC First Physicians clinic in Seven Points.
Eubank knows the experience firsthand. Representatives from the state’s health department recently paid a routine, unannounced visit to the Seven Points clinic to evaluate whether or not the clinic would be recertified for Medicare.
“It can make or break a clinic,” she explained.
The last time the state had evaluated the rural health clinic for Medicare recertification was in 2003.
So the question was how well would the staff at the rural health clinic have maintained the standards required by the state.
The answer: perfectly, absolutely perfectly.
“They looked in every drawer and even under cabinets looking for anything that shouldn’t have been there,” said Eubank.
“They looked for expired medications in the sample closet, toured the lab and checked to see if all required emergency medications are on site. They checked to make sure our chart system is in order and up-to-date. It was intense,” she stated.
After two days of painstaking examination (the policy and procedure manual governing rural health clinics is three inches thick), the two state surveyors called a five-minute meeting, announced there were absolutely no deficiencies and left.
“They said they had never been to a rural health clinic where they found no deficiencies. They were very surprised,” Eubank added.
The staff was jubilant.
“What this says is that the people at this clinic are doing a great job of taking care of our patients thanks to our staff and Danny Fillip,” said Dr. Doug Curran.
Curran is the medical director at the clinic. He sees patients there a few days a month, while physician assistant Danny Fillip treats patients at the clinic full-time.
“This clinic avails people the medical care they would otherwise not be able to easily access,” explained Curran.
Eubank also praised the support staff.
“From the medical receptionist to both nurses, they do excellent work,” she said.
The ETMC First Physicians clinic in Seven Points is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m to 5 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information, the clinic number is (903) 713-1490.

10th annual Area Chamber banquet slated March 21
Special to The Monitor
KEMP–The Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Awards Banquet and 10-year anniversary celebration at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 21, at the Cedar Creek Country Club.
This is the night that the community comes together to celebrate and honor the deserving winners of many awards presented during the course of the evening.
In addition to the “Citizen of the Year” and “Lifetime Service” awards, the chamber presents an “Ambassador of the Year” plaque, Mabank ISD “Teacher of the Year” awards and various chamber chapter awards.
It is truly a night of community spirit and recognition of volunteerism in the lake area, made even more meaningful in 2011 because it is the 10th year of unification.
During a special joint meeting early in 2001, the Cedar Creek Lake Chamber, the Mabank Chamber and the Gun Barrel City Chamber voted unanimously to join together as a single entity.
Tickets to the event are $35 per person, and tables of six and eight can be reserved by calling the chamber office.
Reservation deadline is Thursday, March 17. Seating is limited, and advance ticket purchase is strongly encouraged by the chamber.
Tickets are available at the chamber office, 604 S. Third St. Ste E in Mabank, at Southside Bank and First State Bank in Gun Barrel City, Prosperity Bank in Seven Points, Citizens State Bank in Mabank and First State Bank in Mabank.
For more information, call (903) 887-3152 or e-mail info@cedarcreeklakechamber.com.

Pinewood Derby scheduled April 2
Special to The Monitor
GUN BARREL CITY–It’s time once again to shine up those awesome cars, trucks and motorcycles and bring them to the second annual car show and Pinewood Derby races at Christian Life Center Church in Gun Barrel City Saturday, April 2.
The car show starts at 10 a.m., but if everyone can get their vehicles registered by Friday, March 25, it will guarantee the right T-shirt size and will help us to know how many to order.
There is fun, food and entertainment for the whole family.
Please get busy building those pinewood derby cars, or just come on out and watch the races. The car kits are $8 and that includes the entry fee.
We are also looking for sponsors. It is $50, and you get your business name and phone number on the T-shirt.
If you can help out the Royal Rangers by doing this, it will be greatly appreciated. We need your information by Tuesday, March 15. All proceeds go to the children’s ministries at CLC.
Call Shannon Rose at (903) 880-7375 or the church office at (903) 887-5429 if you have any questions.

 

Come Adopt Us At The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake

We have many animals at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points in dire need of a good home. Please call or stop by the Humane Society today and rescue one of these forgotten animals. The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake is located on 10220 County Road 2403 in Seven Points. For more information, please call (903) 432-3422 after 11 a.m. We are closed on Wednesday and Sunday.

For further information visit our website at petfinder.com