A new medical resource has officially opened its doors in Connersville to address the growing need for accessible healthcare. Located at 1210 Illinois Avenue, The Clinic is now in its second week of operation, providing primary care services with a focus on serving the community regardless of insurance status.
The facility is led by Kimberly S. Neace, APRN, DNP, who has operated a large practice in Ohio for nearly 40 years. For Neace, opening a location in Connersville was about timing and faith.
“I wanted to do it for years,” Neace said. “Honestly, God’s timing… God will provide when you come. But when you think you’ve arrived, you haven’t. You have to keep going and then when it is the proper time, then He’ll provide.”
Filling a Local Void
Despite hearing from some in the medical community that more services weren’t needed, Neace’s first two weeks told a different story.
“I had met with a couple doctors in town last year who said we didn’t need it, but that’s not true. I am averaging five, seven patients a day here. And that’s crazy,” Neace shared. “They’re in between insurance. My gosh, you can’t afford diabetic medicines and just all of it.”
The program is currently being funded by Higher Praise to ensure these services are available. “Higher Praise floats the bills here right now,” Neace explained. “None of us are getting paid… but the electric is running, the heat, and the electronic health records.”
Services and Accessibility
The Clinic operates as a full-service primary care office for adults aged 16 and older. Neace emphasized that they offer the same level of care as any traditional physician’s office.
“What can’t you do? Everything that a doctor does in an office. No difference,” Neace said.
For those with insurance, the office bills the provider, but they do not collect copays or deductibles. Neace noted that by billing the insurance, patients can still meet their deductibles through the service without having to pay out of pocket. For those without any coverage, Neace remains discerning but compassionate.
“I’ve done mission trips all over the world. You have this much to work with. If we just give it away, I can’t help these people that really need it. So I’m very prudent.”
Reducing the Cost of Care
A major goal for The Clinic is ensuring patients can actually afford the treatment they are prescribed. Neace focuses on finding the most cost-effective options for her patients.
“I got GoodRx on here and every pharmacy, and we look. I find the cheapest thing, and that’s what we do. Blood pressure medicines—we can use all the ‘oldie goldies.’ They’re good. We don’t have to have the big beautiful things.”
She also highlighted the low-cost lab options available, with some tests like liver function or blood work costing as little as $3 to $5.
“Office visit for a new patient elsewhere is $117 for five minutes with the patient. I spend much more than that… You’re getting seen for free by a really cool person.”
Looking Ahead
The Clinic is currently open Mondays and Thursdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Neace hopes to eventually secure grant funding to pay for more expensive diagnostics like ultrasounds and CAT scans.
Residents can schedule appointments via the QR code on the clinic’s flyers or by visiting their online booking site.
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