Grapeland Urgent Care to Host Grand Opening March 24

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

GRAPELAND – Mark your calendars for this Saturday, March 24 as the Grapeland Urgent Care facility, located at 401 N. Church St. will host its Grand Opening.

“We have a few giveaways and gift certificates to give away every hour. We will have music, food and we will also be giving tours of the clinic where the public can come in and see the facility. In addition, we will have four doctors who are coming in – four of the nine doctors who own this facility. They will be here in town to introduce themselves and any answer any questions you may have,” Joe Tumalad, NP (nurse practitioner) said.

Tumalad is the primary provider at the urgent care facility.

“We have a lot going on this coming Saturday and we’ll be having fun,” he said.

The celebration will get underway at approximately 11 a.m. and will be replete with a ribbon cutting, hamburgers, hotdogs, nachos, popcorn and candy.

“The Lions (Grapeland Noon Lions Club) will be helping us out with cooking the food,” he said.

There will also be activities for children including: a bean bag toss; a bounce house; basketball free throws and a prize wheel.

“We were going to have a face painting booth, but unfortunately, Palestine has a festival this week and the person we thought we could get was already booked,” Tumalad said.

Asked about the facility’s business so far, Tumalad said the Grapeland Urgent Care had seen a steady stream of patients.

“We’ve actually been surprised,” Tumalad said. “The first day we saw four patients. That was our lowest total. Ever since then we have seen seven, eight, 10 and 14 has been the highest. We saw 12 patients yesterday (Monday, March 19). It’s been good and we’ve been very pleased with the first few days. We feel we’re going to be busy, if these first few weeks we’ve been open are any indication.”

In addition to all the fun activities going on at the Grapeland Urgent Care facility, Tumalad had previously indicated glucose testing and blood pressure checks will be available during the grand opening.

Admission is free and everyone is invited to come out and see the newest healthcare facility in Houston County.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].