CHAMBLEE—Mercy Care officially broke ground Oct. 28 for its new, 45,000-square-foot clinic facility, slated to open in spring 2017. The new clinic will more than triple the current service capacity at Mercy Care’s existing North clinic location, housed along the Buford Highway corridor, and will expand services to include optometry, ultrasound, radiology, integrated behavioral health and a variety of health education programs.

“We are thrilled to officially begin construction on the new, expanded home for Mercy Care North,” said Tom Andrews, president and CEO of Mercy Care. “The current demand on Mercy Care North far exceeds our capacity so the new clinic space will allow us to further our mission and serve even more of our community’s most vulnerable, regardless of income or insurance status, and to expand the comprehensive care services we can provide.”

Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory presided over the groundbreaking ceremony. He said, “I’m so grateful that we have so many wonderful people, organizations and foundations that have contributed and made this groundbreaking possible. … I would like to especially thank the Sisters of Mercy who are here and especially to those who preceded you and laid the important foundation of the great healing ministry that you established.”

(Back row, l-r) Don Brooks, chair of the Saint Joseph’s Health System, Tom Andrews, president of Mercy Care, and Eric Clarkson, mayor of Chamblee, look on as (foreground, l-r) Kim Marchner, chair of the Mercy Care board, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, Dave Fitzgerald, co-chair of the Mercy Care Chamblee Capital Campaign, and Sister of Mercy Angela Ebberwein, vice president, mission, Mercy Care, take their roles seriously as they dig into the wet and soggy ground during the ceremonial groundbreaking. Photo By Michael Alexander

He added, “Pope Francis has called for a Year of Mercy to begin Dec. 8 of this year. … In this new facility, as you do now, you will show mercy by establishing a compassionate presence for the lives of the many people who will come for medical care and support.”

The clinic, located on Peachtree Road adjacent to MARTA and Walmart, will eventually house 24 examination rooms, eight counseling rooms, six dental operatories, two dental hygiene rooms and space for lab and diagnostic services. The clinic will feature a health education program to address lifestyle changes, including family health promotion, diabetes management, obesity, nutrition and healthy cooking classes, and perinatal care in a culturally appropriate environment.

The Mercy Care Foundation is seeking to raise an additional $3 million to meet the fundraising goal for the project laid out in the Mercy Care Chamblee—Intersection for Hope and Healing capital campaign. Meeting this goal by the end of the year will bring in a matching grant from a donor, and the foundation will receive the final $4 million necessary to complete the project.