People who live in Ferris or within the boundaries of Ferris ISD can receive a free medical or dental check-up this weekend. The check-ups are part of the city's "Access for All" plan which will use ARPA funding to pay for healthcare for all residents.
The city is working with the Ferris Fire Department, MD Health Pathways, Ferris Family Medicine, Jet Dental and Texas A&M Dentistry for the check-ups Friday and Saturday.
Residents can receive physicals, blood pressure screenings, diabetic screenings, heart tests and urine tests. Dental services include cleanings, fillings and extractions.
"We see this time and again where people end up in the ER for something that was not addressed either months ago or years ago that could have been easily addressed, easily dealt with and cost very little money," says Ferris City Manager Brooks Williams.
Williams says check-ups can catch problems before they develop into more expensive conditions.
"That is the exact point of this program, to get folks in early, get them the care they need when it's a simple fix and really help prevent this overwhelmed system they see today," he says.
"Operation Ferris" takes place Friday and Saturday at Ferris High School: 1025 E. 8th St. Ferris, TX 75125. Doors open both days at 8 a.m.
Check-ups are available to residents of all ages, and Williams says dealing with small health issues now can help kids focus on their work in the classroom when they return to school this fall.
"We're working really hard with our school district to create a symbiotic relationship," he says. "If we can create an environment where there's one less thing, and student health is a big portion of that, then we feel like we're doing a pretty good job."
Ferris' Access for All is using ARPA money to provide free healthcare for residents. The city is the first in the country to adopt such a program but has said Access for All is not a government-run healthcare program.
"We're not creating an indigent healthcare system where we're paying hospital bills or interfering with insurance or the doctor-patient relationship," Williams says. "This is just, 'I haven't had a heart screening. I haven't had a diabetic screening. I haven't had my blood pressure checked in the last five years.' Simple things where, if we do those, we can start to address those things before it really puts a strain on the patient and the system."
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