MOLINO, Fla. — Healthcare is becoming more accessible for people who live in rural North Escambia County.
Last week, a nurse practitioner opened a medical clinic in Molino. WEAR News talked to the face behind the operation — Rachel Bradley.
Bradley says it’s all about bridging the gap for people who live in rural areas where healthcare isn’t always readily accessible.
With a population of about a thousand, many live in Molino for the slow pace of life. But that often means sacrificing easy access to shopping, grocery stores and even healthcare.
The closest option, until now, was about twenty minutes away in Pensacola.
“Transportation could be a big issue,” Bradley said. “We do not have taxis out here.”
That’s why Bradley is meeting folks where they are.
Bradley Medical Clinic is operating out of a space in the Farm Bureau building off Highway 97.
“There was a need,” said Bradley. “I have lived in Molino over 20 years, close to 30 now. And they just have limited resources.”
Molino is surrounded by a lot of farm land. Bradley says she’s excited to see who comes through her doors.
“Oh, I’m sure the farmers, have self-treated themselves probably for years,” said Bradley. “…But if it’s more than I can handle, oh, it’s not hard to dial 911.”
In addition to general healthcare, Bradley is a veteran affairs contractor. She’ll provide care to veterans who were injured while serving the country.
“I want to try to decrease the hardship and close that gap and make it more convenient and easier for individuals to come,” Bradley said. “You know, whether it’s a little baby infant, on up to the grandpa.”
Bradley is working to get credentialed for Medicare, and she plans to accept major insurance. She specializes in preventative care and she says part of that is encouraging exercise.
“This is my favorite. This is my workout station,” said Bradley. “So we have some free weights, a spinning bike, an elliptical.”
She says even just a few minutes of cardio every day can make a huge difference. So her vision, rather than patients sitting in the waiting room, they can get some exercise.
“Because there are no sidewalks out here, you know, there’s no neighborhoods,” Bradley said. “So there’s no bike riding and, you know, you’re not going to ride your bike on the side of 97, you know. So this gives them an opportunity to come in and do a little workout and, you know, cardio for 15 minutes makes a huge difference daily.”
Bradley says it’s been a slow start, but she hopes to eventually see ten patients per day and expand the clinic to include a lab for blood work in the future.