Dr. Jose Lopez

Gulf Coast Health Care Systems Inc. opened its doors as a new medical practice in Lehigh on July 2 and already patients are coming for health care.

Dr. Jose Lopez, the physician at the new walk-in clinic and private family doctor’s office, said he is surprised since there had been no official word in the news.

The new medical practice is different than others in Lehigh. It is the first six-day walk-in office without an appointment that takes patients with minor ailments. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday and Lopez said it is very likely in the near future, that the facility will be open on Sundays, too.

“Our walk-in clinic will help to alleviate the ER of the local hospital, Lopez said. However, he noted that someone with a serious ailment such as a heart attack or a stroke should be taken by ambulance to the Lehigh Regional Medical Center. But with us, you won’t have to wait three or four hours for a minor medical problem.

“We’re here to fill a void, actually, and our care will cost considerably less than what patients will be charged at the ER for minor ailments,” Lopez said.

He described minor ailments such as scrapes and burns, rashes, puncture wounds, continued stomach problems and other minor health woes.

The new Gulf Coast Health Care Center is located at 2718 Lee Blvd. in the front corner office of the Optiman Health & Fitness Center. To get there, you should go into the entrance off off Lee Blvd. into Taco Bell and turn left.

Lopez said the owner of the business, Mickey Jones, also owns the health & fitness center and has plans to turn the building into an entire medical complex for acute care and general practice by the end of this year.

Jones would build his gym and fitness center on a lot next door and is currently waiting for the permits before he can start building, Lopez said.

“We actually are an urgent and convenient care center. We have physicians on call if I am not at the office and plans calls for the addition on a physician and a PA, a physican’s assistant. Presently, the office is manned by an office manager and receptionist Sarojini Concepcion.

The new medical office is not a free clinic; however, Lopez said prices will be much lower than at other locations, including not only the hospital ER, but some doctors’ offices.

“For something simple like a rash, the cost would be probably around $50. The reason is that it would require very little time to come up with a remedy without having to go through complicated test with equipment.

For someone with stomach pain, Lopez said it would require more time and the use of medical equipment and a cost could run more. He also makes referrals to other specialist or the hospital if the ailments are serious enough to require more specialized treatment.

He was asked how patients with no insurance and very little money would be treated if they came to the walk-in clinic, maybe with a minor ailment. Lopez said the patient would be charged according to a sliding scale perhaps.

“We would have to work something out. The patient could make payments for the cost of most treatments.

“We’re working with the insurance companies now as we speak and we’re dealing with Medicare …. all of which takes time,” Lopez said.

“But we will not turn anyone away if they don’t have money, but we will try to work with them,” he said. He noted that the patient should have some type of down payment on his or her bill if finances are a major problem.

Lopez stressed that the practice is not only a walk-in clinic but he is also an internist and family doctor and will see patients on regular appointments.

“I’m a new physician in town and am working to build up my patient base,” he said.

Lopez lives in Fort Myers in the Three Oaks area and says it only takes him about 15 minutes to get to the office.

Lopez said he is not associated with the gym and fitness center but if there are injuries, he would more than likely treat them.

When Jones opens the new gym, Lopez said more diagnostic equipment would be brough into the complex which is about 6,000 square feet in size.

We’ll be looking for a nurse practioner and a PA (physician’s assistant) who is also a nurse practioner.