On Tuesday, the smell of fresh paint still lingered in the air as Champion Medical Center and Urgent Care opened its doors to patients for the first time.

 In an area largely lacking medical facilities since Katrina, the new center is part of an effort to revitalize the neighborhood.   Nearby stands a massive empty structure with the remaining “ODIST HOSPITAL” still clings to the wall facing the street.  The city and Methodist Hospital are still negotiating but there is still no official date for reopening.

 On the facility’s first day alone, at least 20 New Orleans East residents, including the elderly and pregnant, arrived to make appointments, said Champion’s family nurse practitioner, Cynthia Kudj.

 Kudj said she met Champion Medical’s founder, Gregory Davis, through a colleague.  She said she joined Champion center to help the community.

 ”There is a lack of health care service out here,” she said. There is no alternative for any other health care facility.”

 The center is still working out its business structure and how its patients can efficiently cover costs.  According to Connie Perkins, the facility’s certified medical assistant, the center is still assessing care costs to create affordable medical assistance.

 ”If a procedure were to cost $20, we would not charge our patients 40,” said Perkins as an example of the clinic’s goal to maintain affordable health care.

 On the center’s first day, staff members assisted prospective patients with health insurance forms.  According to Kudj, the facility may soon have a social worker on staff to counsel patients on their possible eligibility for Medicaid and other aid programs.

 The center also plans to look into the possibility of participating in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, which offers prescription medicine at a lower cost for safety net health care providers.

 Bonita Wilson, 42, who has lived in New Orleans East for 15 years, said the lack of health care in the area means residents have to travel   far for emergency assistance.  She said the clinic is progress, but added that what New Orleans East still needs is a   hospital.

 Davis, a former boxer who goes by the nickname “True Champ,”  said he remained optimistic about the center’s success.  He said he hoped the new facility would encourage residents to invest and rebuild the community.

 ”I’m not trying to be a hero, I just want my city back,” he said while sitting inside his new office.