Got the sniffles? There’s a lot of that going around these days, along with the stomach flu and other pesky illnesses. You can call your doctor and begin what can be a long process to getting well, or you can walk into Love Thy Neighbor Clinic in Katy and be out in no time.
Opened in January of this year, this unique clinic combines medical treatments with spiritual renewal. It was the brainchild of owner Thuy Nguyen, who saw a gap in the healthcare system and set out to fill it.
“God showed me there’s a huge need in preventative care,” Nguyen explained. “I grew up in a family of eight siblings in a low-income environment. We were on welfare and we used the public health system. I remember waiting all day for medical care and other services, and thought, even at a young age, that there should be a better system.”
After having her first child, Nguyen considered nursing in order to be a better mom and care provider. In nursing school, she was impacted during her public health rotation, where she became aware that her patients’ greatest need is education, specifically how to take care of themselves and stay out of the hospital.
The idea was born to create a place that educated not only the mind but the heart. Nguyen created a business page on Facebook and prayed for the right people to join her team. Immediately she found a physician with which she could collaborate, a doctor active in his church, who she can consult with when needed. She hired medical assistants to round out her staff and opened her doors, which look quite different from those in a typical walk-in clinic.
“We have Scripture on our walls. We don’t discriminate, but we are unapologetically Christian. We don’t take donations and we’re not government funded or sponsored. Our patients don’t have to qualify based on income.” It was important for Nguyen to operate a clinic that is available to those who need medical care, but that also addresses patients’ spiritual needs.
“We focus on the person as a whole. Everyone that works here starts their day with prayer. The scriptures on our walls are there to make people think. We offer the opportunity to pray with our patients. We take prayer requests and follow up with our patients to let them know we are continuing to pray for them,” added Nguyen.
The Love Thy Neighbor Clinic offers all of the basic services of your typical walk-in clinic. They study the costs of labs and services and strive to offer lower prices and affordable health care for their patients. They pride themselves on the care they provide and the follow up they ensure with each and every patient to see how they are doing well after they walk out the door. They make an effort to refer patients to other low-cost resources in the area, even creating a directory of providers.
Popular services include reversing conditions, occupational health, weight loss programs, vaccinations, well-women exams, and natural health. The clinic teaches people how to be accountable for their health at a lower cost than the major retail clinic chains.
As Nguyen put it, their mission is different from that of their competitors. “Our goal is to glorify Christ, not just provide a service. Whether or not we make a lot of money or do great business is secondary. We want to bring people to Christ.”
Love Thy Neighbor Clinic is located at 1945 N. Mason St in Katy. Mention this article and get $5 off a sports physical.