Dr. W. Joseph Atiya and Dr. Reem Tawfik, both primary care physicians with Optum, celebrate at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and community open house for the new Optum-Hemet Primary Care Clinic and Community Center. Valley News/Courtesy photo
All it took was some patience and the realization that it’s always good to follow doctor’s orders.That’s the simplified backstory about the new Optum-Hemet Primary Care Clinic and Community Center on West Florida Avenue that held its grand opening June 25 under the watchful caring eyes of Dr. W. Joseph Atiya.It was Atiya who opened his small medical practice in Hemet 42 years ago and welcomed his first few patients when the community needed only one stop light. The local hospital then could be best described as small. Today, the area has grown to nearly 100,000 residents and Atiya’s patient base now numbers more than 5,000.The Hemet population continues to grow but access to health care is not keeping pace. Many residents drive up to 40 minutes to access health care ser
