Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Clinic up and running in Gurdon

In recent months, Gurdon's Mercy Medical Clinic has changed to The Prescott Family Clinic in Gurdon.

This change took place after a rumor spread the clinic was going to close. In almost six months from that time, it did.

Dr. Michael Young, a physician from Prescott, had been traveling to Gurdon for the past 10 years, and knew how desperately the area needed a clinic. Therefore, he bought the clinic, changed the name and since has made quite a few changes.

Jakeela Bennett is the Nurse Practitioner at the clinic and is there Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Bennett has worked in the area for years and says she started out as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She later decided to return to school become a Registered Nurse and get her Master's Degree.

"Being a Nurse Practitioner, gives me the ability to write prescriptions and handle emergency situations when necessary," said Bennett.

She said she worked in Hope for several years under a physician there and also in the hospital. Both experiences gave her the ability to handle almost any and all situations.

"When I returned to school, I knew my hands on experience had helped me more than anything," said Bennett.

She graduated from Vanderbilt College.

Not only is Bennett one of the positive additions to the staff, the clinic has also welcomed several specialists to come in on certain days and visit with patients.

On Thursday, Dr. Mason, a general surgeon, visits the clinic.

"Dr. Mason is very accommodating to us at the clinic and the patients. He has told me that even if I only have one patient needing a consultation, he will drive over from Hope to talk with them. It has really worked out quite well," said Bennett.

Further additions may soon include some OB/GYN's to come and be able to visit with people and do exams.

An orthopedic specialists has also been mentioned and according to Bennett would be well welcomed.

Bennett was the guest speaker, Thursday, October 9, at the Gurdon Rotary Club meeting. Rotary member, Al Brown was responsible for the program and wanted Bennett to come and let the people of Gurdon know Jekeela, "Gurdon's best kept secret", as she was referred to at the meeting.

Along with Bennett was Dr. Paula A. Ribeiro a cardiologist from the Little Rock Cardiologist Clinic.

Dr. Ribeiro comes to the clinic in Gurdon once a week to visit with those with possible cardiac problems and to make check-ups with those recovering.

Brown said he was one of Dr. Ribeiro's patients and was well pleased with his work.

"He had my life in his hands, and he gave it back to me. I guess that shows us something," said Brown.

Dr. Ribeiro is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Interventional Cardiology, and was most recently a Professor of Medicine and Director if the Cardiology Fellowship Program at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, California. He received his medical degree from Universidade do Porto in Portugal in 1977 where he also completed his Internship and started his residency in Internal Medicine. He completed his Internal Medicine residency and Fellowship in cardiology at Hammersmith Hospital, Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London, England in 1984. He is also a fellow in the American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology.

Ribeiro said he has enjoyed working at the clinic each week and is looking forward to working with the people of Gurdon.

In Ribeiro's speech he told guests, heart disease is the number one killer in Clark County and the state of Arkansas.

"Most people start developing heart disease by their late teens," said Ribeiro.

Guests were allowed to ask the doctor questions. One was, "Do you think it helps to take aspirin?"

Ribeiro said it was helpful for people to take aspirins, however, they needed to make sure they didn't have an allergy to it, bleeding ulcers or were currently taking medicines that may conflict with aspirin, such as Vioxx, Celebrex and others.

He told guests that a baby aspirin would do the trick and might add up after some time, but considering the consequences, was probably a good investment in the long run.

One guest asked if drinking two small glasses of red wine a day could really make a difference.

Dr. Ribeiro said, "Yes, it can actually make a difference. There is something in the red wine that raises the levels of good cholesterol. This helps tremendously and can reduce the chance of a deadly heart attack by a great margin."

Ribeiro also said drinking the two small glasses of wine a day is recommended by the American Heart Association as is exercising and stopping smoking.

Anyone who would like to know more about what is going on at the Gurdon clinic, can call (870) 353-4001.

Bennett said the clinic has been busy since in operation, with her seeing up to 25 patients a day.