CHAMBLEE—Mercy Care staff enjoyed a visit from Bishop Luis R. Zarama at the North Clinic on Buford Highway in Atlanta May 12.

Following a tour and a visit with staff and Mercy Care board members, Bishop Zarama and the group went to the site of the future Mercy Care Chamblee clinic. Gathered in a circle, those attending listened to Scripture read by Don Brooks, chair of the board of Saint Joseph’s Health System, and Dave Fitzgerald and Jane Haverty, co-chairs of the capital campaign for the north clinic expansion.

On May 12, the Mercy Care staff joined Bishop Luis R. Zarama at the new site of the future Mercy Care Chamblee clinic for a blessing of the site. Gathered in a circle, the group listened to Scripture passages read by Dave Fitzgerald, left, and Jane Haverty, second from left, co-chairs of the Mercy Care capital campaign. Also shown are Father Steve Yander, second from right, and Dave Spotanski, chief operating officer of the Atlanta Archdiocese.

Bishop Zarama offered words of inspiration, blessed the land and those present, and concluded with prayer.

For more than 10 years, Mercy Care North, located in the Northeast Plaza Shopping Center, has served the working poor of the community and is the only federally qualified health center in the area. Mercy Care North provides care to more than 3,500 patients per year, which amounts to more than 11,000 office visits.

The proposed Chamblee clinic will be significantly larger than the current location and will house 12 examination rooms, four dental operatories and space for lab services. Service capacity will double, making primary care available for up to 5,500 patients annually with a potential volume of 16,000 office visits.

Mercy Care Chamblee will become a permanent medical home for the most vulnerable in the surrounding community and will be positioned to expand access to key health care resources for DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. The new clinic is strategically located near MARTA providing transportation options for patients.

The 40,000-square-foot building will provide parking for 100 cars. The ground floor will have 20,000 square feet dedicated for medical, dental and integrated behavioral health services with a special focus on the elderly and women and children services.

At the new site, Mercy Care is planning to significantly expand pediatric services to the underserved.

A community health education center with a small auditorium and classrooms will be for use by Mercy Care, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and other partner agencies in the area.

The capital campaign need for the Chamblee location is $12 million. The Mercy Care Foundation recently received a $4 million challenge grant from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation toward the campaign.