Representatives from Oak Street Health, which opened a clinic in July at Roosevelt Mall, visited the East Torresdale Civic Association’s Sept. 9 meeting.
The center, next to the former Pizza and Pasta at Cottman and Bustleton avenues, serves as a primary care doctor’s office for adults on Medicare.
Iryna Yakymiv, a member of Oak Street’s outreach team, said the clinic offers a “different view of healthcare.” The center has a community room with zumba, dance and tai chi classes, along with other activities free for patients and non-patients.
Yakymiv said the goal of the activities is to keep seniors in the area active and to prevent loneliness. She also stressed that the Oak Street doctors interact more with patients than typical physicians.
Patients can receive complimentary transportation to and from the facility.
The Roosevelt Mall location is Chicago-based Oak Street’s first center in the Northeast. It entered the Philadelphia market last year and now has 10 clinics in the area.
In other news from the ETCA meeting:
The city ordered the closure of Glen Foerd on the Delaware’s boathouse after engineers found structural issues with the building, Glen Foerd board member Bernadette Liddell said.
Liddell said there is no update on the boat dock project, which new executive director Ross Mitchell called a “nightmare” last month due to issues with the engineering firm originally hired to do the work.
ETCA President Joe Carson said there is an open spot on the civic’s board. The association is looking for someone with technical proficiency, he said.
The next ETCA meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. at Liberty Free Evangelical Church, Linden Avenue and Milnor Street. ••
