Today marks the final day in the life of the Everett Family Practice Center. When the doors close, I will be leaving the site of my entire medical career to date, begun three years after Everett Family Practice Center opened in 1977. I would like to share a few thoughts with the community.
First, I would like to apologize to our patients for the inconvenience and disruption in their medical care that our closure has caused. I assure you that it is the last thing we wished to have happen, and that we have tried our best to prevent it. Secondly, I would like to thank my patients for their patience, kindness and concern during these difficult weeks leading up to our closure. Many of you have come by just to voice your sympathy and support, and I am grateful. Your letters, gifts and prayers have been most supportive.
The experience of the past four weeks has given me a new perspective on the medical discipline of Family Practice. Traditionally, this term has referred to the practice of medicine that treats the whole family, and indeed we do. But I would suggest that, at least at the Everett Family Practice Center, this term has meant something more – the clinic was family for many patients and staff. The tears that have been shed, both in the halls and exam rooms, send the message very clearly – we deeply care about one another. Medical care here has had an emphasis on caring, and we all sense the impending loss.
There will be other clinics for us, and hopefully our patients will be able to reconnect with their physicians at new sites. But there won’t be another Everett Family Practice Center and for all of us family, and the community, this is a tragedy of the times.
Thanks again.
Everett
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