NOKOMIS (WSNN) – After 22 years serving low-income families, a Nokomis dental clinic is forced to close.
“I’m amazed that anybody in the middle of a pandemic would ask the healthcare provider to leave in 30 days, I can’t move my phone system in 30 days,” Genesis Health Services, president James McCloud said.
James McCloud created Genesis Dental Clinic in 1998 to serve the economic distressed population in Sarasota County with dental work.
His landlord at on June 1, he needs to pack everything up by the end of the month.
“Right now, it’s physically impossible for us to move that office in two weeks,” McCloud said.
He says with 22 years of building a clinic, it’s going to take a long time to get out. He doesn’t believe he will be able to close shop in two-weeks. And he doesn’t have the funds to relocate.
But, knowing the tough time we’re all in, McCloud says he understands the landlords’ reasoning.
“I’m not so sure I wouldn’t do the same thing if I were in their place,” McCloud said. “It’s straight totally business. They’re a for-profit business, we’re non-profit. They have no obligation to support what we’re doing.”
The landlords moved quickly.
“They have already leased our space, along with the two or three adjacent spaces,” McCloud said.
He says he doesn’t blame the landlords, and his hostility is more directed towards the institutions structured to support non-profits.
“We have an exempt status because of the charitable work that we do,” McCloud said. “If my rent were 5,000 a month, there should be support in this community to help us pay it. The landlord should not have to bear that burden.”
McCloud says he’s thankful to his landlords for allowing them to pay below-market rent, but their decision is unwise.
“This is not the time for communities to be losing healthcare providers.
He has another clinic in Palmetto, serving Manatee County residents.
But, as far as Sarasota County, McCloud says it all depends on the community support.
“Our next step is just to continue where we have started up in Manatee and to see if there is anyone interested in partnering with us to continue in Sarasota.”
He says he will not abandon his clients.
“That’s our priority right now, is that no patient goes unserved where we started procedures.”
McCloud says he’ll be serving his clients as long as he can. And if they’re able to relocate, it could take at least 90 days to find an efficient location. But, in the meantime, he’s directing some of his patients to dentists in the area who will offer services at a reduced fee.
SNN reached out to the landlords and they declined to comment.
There’s more information about Genesis Health Services below:
| James McCloud (941)-363-1852 james.mccloud@genesishealthagency.org |
