In 1968 Dr. Gerald Foret and his wife, Gayle, moved to
Franklinton to make their home here. Shortly after their move, Dr. Foret
established what would eventually be known to many as Family Medical Clinic. He
served as the only doctor at the clinic for the first 12 years before bringing
in other doctors to serve the citizens of Franklinton and Washington Parish. He
gave local doctors a job to come home to while meeting a huge need in our
community.
Currently Dr. Libeau Berthelot, Dr. Mark James and Dr.
Christopher Foret practice in the Family Medical Clinic. The trio combined has
close to 75 years of experience as physicians who have served thousands of
patients in our area over the years. These doctors, along with their medical
and office personnel, have provided first-class service while becoming involved
in the community. They chose to raise their families here and have been active
in areas outside of their practice while becoming friends to many. They've made
house calls and saw patients after hours and on holidays. Simply put, they did
whatever it took to make sure people received quality healthcare from doctors
who are genuinely concerned.
After initially partnering with East Jefferson General
Hospital, FMC has been a part of the St. Tammany Parish Hospital system since
2003. STPH paid the salaries of the doctors and all personnel at FMC; money
that didn't cost the taxpayers of Washington Parish anything at all. They also
provided an economic boost to Riverside Medical Center. Dr. Chris Foret stated
that his charges to Riverside Medical Center in 2012 totaled $2.2 million and
he admitted over 80% of his patients to the local hospital. Dr. James reported
that Family Medical Clinic generated over $23 million in gross income for Riverside
Medical Center from 2007 to 2011 and another $7.3 million in 2012 alone.
Many will wonder why some type of deal couldn't be worked
out between RMC and STPH when the two parties had a working agreement for so
many years. Many wonder what suddenly
changed. It's likely a question that most will never fully understand and it
truly is very puzzling.
One thing's for sure though; the Family Medical Clinic in
Franklinton is now forever closed and a new one in Folsom is ready to open on
Monday, October 19. The moving company is working now and the doctors already
have a list of patients to see on their first day at the new location. Many
Washington Parish residents will now make the 20 minute drive south when it's
time to see the doctors who have cared for them for so many years.
Also gone will be many tax dollars that had been spent in
Franklinton. That money will now support St. Tammany Parish instead of being
funneled back to benefit our school system, the Town of Franklinton, the
Washington Parish Government and even Riverside Medical Center.
One can only wonder how it must've felt to the doctors
and their staff to walk out of Family Medical Clinic for the final time last
Wednesday. A clinic that has served Franklinton and the surrounding areas since
1968 will no longer serve at 711 Riverside Drive. The doctors and their staff
will be okay as they adjust to their new setting. It's the people of Washington
Parish who will pay the biggest price in this entire ordeal. Franklinton's loss
is Folsom's gain...and what a gain it is for them.
Thank you to the Foret's, the James', the Berthelot's and
all others for your service to Franklinton and Washington Parish over the
years. You will be missed here in many ways.
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(L-R) Drs. Gerald Foret, Libeau Berthelot, Mark James
& Chris Foret
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