10 minute read
NEW DOCS IN TOWN
TOC Panama City
Michael Boblitz, chief executive officer of Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic (TOC), is continuously seeking ways to serve patients best. In doing so, he took to a map of Northwest Florida to track the destinations they were travelling from to the clinic. Tracing map lines quickly became blueprints to two new offices in Panama City and Panama City Beach.
TOC was opened in 1974 by Dr. Doug Henderson and Dr. Tom Haney who saw the need for an orthopedic clinic specializing in sports medicine in a region with a wealth of high school and college sports teams. Today, between eight offices in Florida and Georgia, there are 32 physicians, 47 physician extenders and over 300 employees.
In October of 2022, the TOC Panama City office at 2011 Harrison Ave. will open.
The other new location, TOC Panama City Beach clinic is estimated to be in operation by the fall of 2024. This will bring the total to ten clinics.
The organization is excited to announce that the TOC Panama City Beach location will be in conjunction with Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Florida State University College of Medicine and The St. Joe Company. The 80,000-square-foot building will house TOC on the second floor with primary care on the first, cardiovascular on the third and surgical care on the fourth floor.
“Panama City Beach is growing by leaps and bounds with a lot of promising development happening,” said Boblitz. “It seemed like a great opportunity to open two offices to serve not only Bay County but the other growing adjacent counties as well, such as Walton and Gulf, to fulfill our promise to keep people healthy, active and strong through prevention, preservation and wellness.”
Andrew Borom, MD
Eric A. Branch, MD
Michael Boblitz, chief executive officer of Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic
These offices will replicate the Tallahassee office over the next few years offering comprehensive care in the areas of joint reconstruction, sports medicine, regenerative medicines, diagnostic imaging, hand and wrist, foot and ankle, pain management, orthotics and prosthetics, shoulder and elbow, pediatric orthopedics, concussion, spine and back, trauma, physical therapy and more.
Boblitz is excited to welcome Eric A. Branch, MD, specializing in orthopedic sports medicine alongside Ryan Price, MD, specializing in pediatric orthopedics and Andy Borom, MD, specializing in foot and ankle surgery to the TOC Panama City location, beginning services in October.
With more doctors coming on board and an array of services, the idea is that patients receive total orthopedic care in one location rather than bouncing from office to office, which Boblitz refers to as the “ping-pong effect.”
Alongside convenience, the clinic has a clear vision to be a trusted partner to all who cross theirs doors by becoming a leading value-based organization that embraces cost reduction, quality and clinical experience.
“Access to all is very important to us,” said Boblitz. “We provide easy access to high-quality physicians who practice affordable medicine.”
To achieve this goal, they’ve established themselves as the only clinics within a wide radius that accept all forms of insurance and Medicaid, along with instant access through the TOC Orthopedic Urgent Care Clinic, referred to as “TOC Now.” Further, the TOC online scheduling service allows the community to avoid antagonizing phone calls by easily scheduling an appointment with any provider of choice, 24 hours a day, from a mobile and desktop device (teamtoc.com). “Our $400 MRI, for example, saves patients with high deductible insurance plans about $1,600 (or more),” Boblitz said.
The money that is paid is often invested right back into the communities through nonprofit fundraisers, community events, clothing/food drives and disaster relief. Through the clinic’s sports medicine outreach program, they serve over 42 Big Bend schools and are the official team physicians of Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College.
“We look forward to serving the Panama City and Panama City Beach communities within their own communities by getting residents seen and treated with the aim of getting them active again,” said Boblitz.
TOC PANAMA CITY OFFICE
2011 HARRISON AVE., PANAMA CITY, FL | (850) 691-4188 | TEAMTOC.COM
CHAMPIONS
SURPLUS SALVATION
Destin Harvest combats food insecurity in Okaloosa and Walton counties
by EMMA WITMER
Despite the United States’ status as one of the largest food-producing countries in the world, 38% of our nation’s population goes hungry every year. According to Feeding America, a nonprofit network of food banks, Florida exceeds 2.2 million living with food insecurity.
Why then, in a country with an abundance of resources, is hunger such a pervasive issue? One answer (and possible solution) is food waste. In 2017, the USDA’s Economic Research Service estimated between 30% and 40% of the country’s food supply went to waste. “I think the biggest benefit out-
Destin Harvest, a nonprofit organization op- side of here for our residents is that erating in Okaloosa and Walton counties, stops our past residents know that this waste dead in its tracks, diverting surplus food truck shows up every Wednesday from local grocers to more than 40 feeding pro- at noon, and if they are in need of grams across its two-county service area. groceries, they can come and (the
“We are a very small program,” said Destin driver) will give them food as well,” Harvest Executive Director Chris Leavenworth. said CALM President, Chanie Erb. “At most, we may have three people, and we are Leavenworth got involved with distributing about 100,000 to 200,000 pounds Destin Harvest back in 2008, just of food a month. That all goes out to food pan- one year after benefactor and curtries, soup kitchens, churches and more.” To rent board chair, George Landegger, qualify for assistance, the organization must founded the organization. be a 501(c)(3) or tax-exempt organization, the Landegger is a successful busifood must be offered for free and they cannot nessman who frequently vacarequire the individuals to attend a service. tions in the area. Over the years,
One organization that benefits from Destin Landegger has leveraged his wealth Harvest’s services is CALM House. CALM to create surplus feeding programs (Crisis Aid for Littles and Moms) is a Christian like Destin Harvest in states such as faith-based program that provides secure housing, New York and Alabama, but it was healthy meals, child care, counseling and classes through his ties with the Destin wato at-risk mothers and children. Thanks to Destin terfront restaurant, Harbor Docks, Harvest, CALM has drastically reduced its food that Landegger first saw the need spending, allowing the program to expand the ser- for such a program in Okaloosa and vices offered to its residents. Walton counties.
→ Chris Leavenworth began as a part-time driver for Destin Harvest. Now, as program director, he continues to spend at least one workday a week on the truck to stay connected with the mission of the program and community it serves.
“Harbor Docks has a free meal that they do every Thanksgiving,” Leavenworth said. “The beautiful thing about that event is you have a wide mix of people that show up. You have people who are well-to-do. They come because it’s an event that they look forward to every year. Then you have families that are genuinely in need of a meal that day, and they all eat together.”
Like any lofty goal, Destin Harvest started small. When Leavenworth came on board as a part-time weekend driver, the program had one large truck, which Leavenworth would use to pick up surplus ingredients from restaurants across the two-county area and deliver on the same day.
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↑ Destin Harvest rarely stores the food it receives. When its drivers pick up a shipment, that food goes out the same day, ensuring that those benefiting from the program receive the freshest possible meat and produce. Due to rising food and housing costs, people are lining up at pickup sites in record numbers.
This challenge inspired the Destin Harvest board to establish a relationship with Feeding the Gulf Coast, which gave the organization access to surpluses from local grocery stores at the meager cost of one cent per pound of food. With this sudden increase in available supply came the need for additional transportation, and around 2009, Destin Harvest added two more trucks to its fleet.
“When I got started with Destin Harvest, I was very curious about what it was,” Leavenworth said. “I can’t say that I had a previous passion about hunger relief. That would be totally disingenuous of me, but once I got on the truck and started driving and meeting our programs and understanding what it was we were doing, I pretty much immediately felt connected with it.”
Today, Destin Harvest is primarily supported by Landegger and other benefactors, though many residents make small, monthly donations that help support the program. Leavenworth said that, as time goes on, Destin Harvest hopes to shift into a community-supported model.
“Just $18 will cover 100 pounds every month,” Leavenworth said. “If we were able to build that kind of organic community support, that would get us into a great place. Ultimately, that is what we are striving for, to secure our future in Okaloosa and Walton counties because who knows how long we can maintain getting support through the benefactors we have now? They aren’t going to be around forever.”
WANTED ADVOCATES With every $100 in donations it receives, Destin Harvest is able to distribute over 700 pounds of food to feeding programs in Okaloosa and Walton counties. The organization also relies on the generosity of the community to meet expenses for truck repairs, fuel costs and other cost items related to food rescue and distribution. Destin Harvest provides an opportunity for all, both residents and tourists alike, to give back to the community. Visit destinharvest.org and click on Donate Now to make a contribution.
THE TASTING EXPERIENCE REIMAGINED
Amainstay of Alys Beach’s Town Center and favorite of locals and visitors alike, NEAT Bottle Shop and Tasting Room is tucked along 30A between George’s and The Citizen. Clean, smart design punctuated with bold red accents, NEAT stands out against the bright white architecture of Alys Beach, offering a cozy space to pick up items for imbibing elsewhere, or for enjoying onsite.
The Bottle Shop offers a curated selection of artisan spirits, wines, craft beers, and small-batch canned cocktails as well as a refined collection of barware and gift items. A knowledgeable team is at the ready to guide shopping selections or craft the tasting experience as the shop flows into the Tasting Room. The bar room extends into a light-filled space for tableside service and also outdoors for an alfresco, café-style setting.
NEAT’s Tasting Room features a creative menu of seasonal cocktails, reimagined on the monthly; wines and beers; and shareable plates designed to complement the beverage experience. The weekly Wine & Song event brings live music performances and special wine features to the Tasting Room. Popup tastings and special tasting events benefiting charities are also in the NEAT events line-up throughout the year, with Thanksgiving holiday Whiskey Tasting benefiting Warrick Dunn Charities and Wine Down — Stocking Up benefiting the Point Washington Medical Clinic on the annual roster.
Through Alys Beach’s 30A Wine Festival and select pop-ups throughout the year, NEAT has built relationships with small-batch producers, craft distillers and family-owned wineries from around the country, furthering the experience of the special and the intentional at NEAT. These relationships give an authenticity and depth to the offerings, adding a story of community and lifestyle, woven imperceptibly through the Bottle Shop and Tasting Room there in the heart of Alys Beach.
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