Dover clinic welcomes their new board members
Melissa Vance
The Tuscarawas Clinic for the Working Uninsured is beginning 2021 with four new board members. Dawn Bielski, Nicole Dorsey, Deborah Scott and Melissa Vance were added to assist the clinic in continuing its mission to care for the working, uninsured residents of Tuscarawas County.
Each of these individuals brings a unique background and talent that will benefit the organization. “All of these ladies come to us with a healthcare or social-service background,” said Pat Warther, the clinic’s executive director.
Both Scott and Vance have volunteered at the clinic in the past. “These two ladies add a unique perspective to the board as they understand how the clinic operates and those individuals that we assist,” Warther said.
Bielski has a medical background, and her community involvement is an additional benefit to the board. Dorsey brings both medical and social-service awareness to the board as an employee of Harcartus.
The Tuscarawas Clinic for the Working Uninsured is celebrating its 12th year. This past year has been difficult with COVID restrictions and concerns.
The clinic limited patients coming into the clinic in the beginning of the pandemic when everything was shut down. Patients continued to have their medications refilled, and practitioners called patients instead of a face-to-face visit.
“We needed to adjust like everyone else,” Warther said. “Our goal for 2021 is to increase the number of patients we serve in Tuscarawas County.”
The clinic continues to operate from 420 Reeves Ave., Suite D, in Dover, providing primary medical care, laboratory testing and x-rays, health education, prescription assistance, and limited dental care.
Specialty clinics for dermatology and podiatry are provided monthly by Dr. Lindsey Moore and Dr. Adam Myers. Both physicians volunteer their time monthly to provide needed services for the patients.
The clinic also received support from Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital and Trinity Hospital Twin City.
The clinic operates through donations, grants and fundraisers. Many of the grants and donations are from United Way of Tuscarawas County and many area foundations including Austin-Bailey Foundation, Tuscarawas County Community Foundation, Reeves Foundation and the Kimble Family Foundation.
Area businesses, medical professionals and other community members have been supportive.
The Tuscarawas Clinic for the Working Uninsured is a nonprofit organization with a mission to improve access to healthcare for the working, uninsured citizens age 18-64 who live in Tuscarawas County and are at or below 199% of the federal poverty level.
Anyone in Tuscarawas County age 18-64 who is employed but lacks medical insurance can call the clinic at 330-364-1853 to complete a medical and financial assessment to determine eligibility. Additional information can be found at the clinic’s website at www.tuscarawasclinic.org.