10 Years of service to our community!

As we prepare to celebrate 10 years of service to our community, I find myself with such mixed feelings.

I am so proud of the work we have done – it has defined my life. I was never the person with the vision for the clinic, but somehow, I ended up being the right person at the right time to do this work. God has used me in amazing ways – and has used the clinic to guide my personal journey.

On the flip side, I find it so incredibly sad that in the 21^st Century, in the richest country on Earth, healthcare has to be provided in the basement of a church. Really? Where is the justice in that? How can we fool ourselves into thinking that this is just and right?

When did healthcare become a privilege?

With the healthcare dollars currently spent in this country, everyone COULD have access to healthcare if we would just use those dollars better. I clearly don’t have the answers – or I wouldn’t be running a free clinic in the basement of the church. But in my heart, I know there is a better answer.

That said, this is what the clinic has done over the past 10 years. We have provided 3954 individuals with access to healthcare; we have provided 23,940 patient visits and have dispensed medications with a retail value of $7,585,450 to our community.

We have done all of that with volunteer staff, donations and grants. It is truly amazing.

The clinic has a multitude of partners – the local hospital provides lab and x-ray services at no charge; specialists see patients in their private offices; churches and individuals provide meals for the volunteers – many of whom come from their day jobs to volunteer at the clinic; and all those that donate money keep the clinic operational.

It is not always easy. There are some who want to make sure that those we help “deserve” it. I struggle with the concept of the “deserving poor.” Who is it exactly that deserves to be poor? I never can wrap my brain around that concept.

It is not easy because the need is so great.  We started out the first year seeing about 16 patients each week; in 2010, our busiest year, we saw an average of 62 each week. That is a lot of people to be seen by two providers – though, thankfully, not all need to see a provider. Many are here for medication refills.

As I reflect on 10 years, I feel so blessed. The clinic has provided me with work that I love, with friends that share my passion, and with a community that works together, even when we don’t agree.

It has always been my hope that I would work myself right out of a job. That is still my dream – that all the patients we see would have access to healthcare when they need it.