Members of the Waller County Economic Development Program held their most recent meeting at Christ Clinic on March 12 – hearing an update on the charity clinic as well as taking a tour of the facility. The meeting was hosted by the City of Brookshire.

Jay Donnella, population health communications specialist for the clinic located at 1040 Schlipf Road in Katy, outlined the facility’s history and mission and presented recent data on its reach, which includes more than 20,000 patients who have received care. The clinic primarily serves the uninsured and underinsured; however, all patients are welcome, regardless of financial ability or employment status. Christ Clinic, founded 26 years ago in a local church, does not accept insurance or government assistance, Donnella said. Following the organization’s move to its current location a year ago, the patient load has increased 20 percent, due to the proximity of warehouses and distribution centers along Highway 90, he said.

The clinic’s role in providing healthcare for residents of Waller County is critical, Donnella said, citing the lack of major healthcare facilities in the county. Christ Clinic is expanding its services, and plans to offer optometry services, including the sale of eyeglasses, and dental services in the near future, along with imaging services.

Donnella also described the clinic’s new subsidiary, Innovative Wellness, which provides a holistic approach to medicine as well as an alternative revenue stream for Christ Clinic. Additionally, he outlined the clinic’s 2535 Initiative, which will open a network of clinics in selected area churches. Five locations are planned, including sites already open in Houston and in Old Katy and a potential location in the Cinco Ranch area.

Vince Yokum, Waller County EDP executive director, also announced that the organization would hold a conference on infrastructure on April 16 at the Waller County Fairgrounds, Edmonds Hall, 21988 FM 359 in Hempstead. The event will start at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast catered by Eji’s on Main. Panelists, in addition to Yokum, will include former Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and Tim Buscha, an agricultural engineer for IDS Engineering Group. The event is a ticketed event; please call the EDP at 979-921-2485 for more information or go to https://wallercounty.org/infrastructure-conference.