Newspaper Page Text
Page 2— Wednesday, January 17, 2024, The True Citizen
Local man brings affordable healthcare home
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Dr. Sherwin Goering is
a hometown boy who has
brought his medical expertise
back to Burke County.
“Direct primary care was
something I was interested in
since 2015,” Goering stated. “
I was raised here in Waynes
boro and I wanted to come
back to town.”
Goering graduated from
Waynesboro Mennonite
School. His parents, Nathan
and Marlene Goering, own the
Wagon Barn Market on Hwy.
25. He completed his educa
tion at Augusta University.
Welcome Health is a direct
primary practice that offers a
model of medicine, that devi
ates from the standard fee for
medical services. Patients pay
a monthly membership fee
that ranges from $45-$85 per
month, depending on age. The
monthly fee entitles the patient
to 24-hour access to medical
professionals, cash prices for
extended medical services and
eliminates co-pays for unlim
ited office visits.
During a time when medical
professionals are spending less
time with patients during office
visits, Goering guarantees a
first visit of one hour. All other
visits are typically slotted for
30 minutes however, the office
remains flexible when needed.
They also make “house calls”
for people living in nursing
homes for an additional fee.
The practice offers an app de
signed to allow messages when
prescription refills are needed.
Patients are also given a cell
phone number for 24-hour
access. The office guarantees
same day and next day ap
pointments.
“The three pillars that we
are here to provide are value,
access and time,” Goering
pointed out. The office does
not bill insurance for office
visits, but patients can use their
insurance for hospital and lab
services ordered outside of the
practice. However, partner
ships with surrounding medical
facilities ensure lower cash
prices for bloodwork and x-
rays. A routine annual panel of
labs is $21, CT scans are $300
and routine x-rays are $50. The
office is equipped to preform
urinalyses onsite. Routine
women care, preventative care
and immunizations are also
part of the services Welcome
Health offers. Treatment of
chronic diseases like diabetes
is also available. Referrals are
made for serious health issues.
“Just like any other office,
we refer you to cardiology
or for surgery,” Goering re
marked.
Membership fees are based
on individual rates; however,
the practice also offers fam
ily plans that start at $225 per
month for up to five family
members. Additionally, busi
ness plans for employers in
clude rates for employees, their
spouses and children. There
are no contracts involved in
memberships.
“There are no office visit
fees,” Goering pointed out.
“Basically, everything we do
in the office is at no additional
w* H
y |
f*.. .-A
■LjrVj I
Dr. Sherwin Goering prepares one of the examining rooms at Welcome Health in the Waynes
boro office.
cost except for lab work that
we send off. So, we don’t
charge for flu or COVID tests,
pregnancy tests and urinaly
sis.”
The office is also equipped to
stitch up lacerations and only
charges the member patients
for the approximately $5 pack
of sutures.
“There is no need to go to the
emergency department because
we can take care of that right
here,” he said “My background
is in emergency medicine. I’ve
been in emergency medicine
since 2015, so there are a lot
of emergencies that I am com
fortable with taking care of
right here.”
The practice houses Goering
and Dr. Rob Lamberts. Goer
ing holds a Doctor of Nursing
Practice (DNP) degree. The
terminal nursing degree rep
resents the highest level of
education for practiced-based
nursing. Goering’s areas of
expertise include adult ger
ontology and primary care.
Lamberts is a medical doctor
certified in both internal medi
cine and pediatrics.
“Time is the big thing that
I really like to offer patients,
but then price transparency,”
Goering stated. “The value that
we offer, I don’t think you can
get much of anywhere else;
affordability.”
The Waynesboro office, 122
Seventh Street, opened in
September 2023. More infor
mation is available at www.
welcomehealth.net or by call
ing (762) 249-9321.
Dr. Sherwin Goering be
lieves its important to take
the time to get to know his
patients and understand
how they want to be cared
for.
Missing toddler found
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office reported Wednesday, Jan. 10 that three-year-old
Liddy had been located after deputies and K9 Halo searched the area surrounding
her residence. The BCSO credited their deputies and investigators for their fast re
sponse after Liddy was located approximately 200 yards from her home. The agency
also thanked the DNR, Georgia State Patrol, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the
Grovetown Police Department for their willingness to assist.
Ay *2£} / 2Jf * or months or
Ford Edge 1 >9% for72 months
M 2023 Ford Explorers
Bring this od lor on
ADDITIONAL $500 OFF
the lowest advertised price on a new car, truck, or SUV.
MUST BRING AD.
Others call you customers, we call you friend.
SYLVAN IA
ffl 2023 Ford F-150 XLTs
330 Frontage Road West, Sylvania 912-564-7414 wwrw.sylvaniaford.com