Changing healthcare in Central Pa: Medical practices on a mission

BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — In the past few months, healthcare in Blair County has been changing, with places like Gloria Gates Care using a different approach for patients. Family Care Associates , a new medical practice in Duncansville, is aiming to do the same thing.

“Our goal is ultimately to have the healthiest individual possible,” James Frommer, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine with Family Care Associates said.

Dr. Frommer opened his practice just over a month ago, and he said that they’re already looking to add nutritional and functional medicine. However, when it comes to taking care of the whole person, he’s not alone, because Gloria Gates Care shares that same sentiment.

“I’ve been seeing the social outreach by our advocates has been very powerful and, you know, getting people air conditioners and food and things of that nature. So we’re doing a really good job on the medical end. But now we’re starting to really settle in our advocates to really be more than just a health care clinic. But, you know, a hope solution,” Dr. Zane Gates, Co-founder of Gloria Gates Care said.

That also means reaching areas where proper healthcare is difficult to access.

“We opened two offices in Northeastern PA, one in Berwick and one in Shickshinny of all places, I’ve never even knew where it was. So yeah, we have five locations now. It’s been really rewarding to be able to offer services where there was no outlets before,” Donny Beaver, Co-founder of Gloria Gates Care said.

Gloria Gates Care is also being studied, because of how they aim to take care of patients.

“I think that Gloria Gates Care is really creating the future of primary care, especially for people who have Medicaid insurance and also for those who live in rural America. You know, there’s over 90 million Americans who have Medicaid as insurance. One-third of Americans live in rural America. And what we know as a fact is that the access to medical care, particularly primary care, is abysmal. We need to hone it, replicate it, and then scale it across the country. And that’s one of the reasons I’m here,” Zeev Neuwirth, an Independent Doctor said.

Similar to Gloria Gates Care, Dr, Frommer said that he plans to reach the residents of Blair County and the surrounding areas.

“It’s my hope that they will benefit from it. We’re looking to try and build a practice that is patient-centric. Getting back to the old true patient-physician relationship. I think my experience over the past 25 years, the ability to be accessible to the patient, is going to be something that I think the patients are going to like and enjoy,” Frommer said.

As both practices look to the future, their main goal is to help people in Pennsylvania become healthier versions of themselves.

“It’s exciting because we’re actually doing something for our community. We’re not just helping one person. We’re helping everybody all in one. So it’s super exciting to be able to do what we do and really reach out our hearts to those people,” Valerie Luther, Outreach Director at Gloria Gates Care said.

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Gloria Gates Care and Family Care Associates are accepting new patients. If you’re interested in becoming a new patient with Gloria Gates Care, you can call (814) 300-5646, or to sign up with Family Care Associates, you can call (582) 465-7008.

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