Clinic celebrates new location with ribbon cutting ceremony
By Kyle Valentini
May 1, 2011
274
Summary: A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at The Tuscarawas Clinic for the Working Uninsured to celebrate the clinics new location. The Tuscarawas Chamber of Commerce welcomed staff and guests to the new location on April 28.
The staff of The Tuscarawas Clinic for the Working Uninsured gathered with members of the community at the clinics ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by The Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce at their new location at 420 Reeves Ave. Suite D at Dover on April 28. The well attended event included refreshments and tours of the new facility.
Formerly housed in St. Josephs Family Life Center at Dover, the clinic had outgrown the facility and moved to the new site on March 28. The clinic began operations in the new building on April 6.
Volunteers spent countless hours getting the facility ready by painting, moving equipment and supplies and organizing the clinic to ready it for patients.
A member of The Free Clinic Association, The Tuscarawas Clinic for the Working Uninsured was founded in 2009 by Dr. Brenda Prince, Wendy Thomas, RN and Shelly Broadbent, RN, the clinics former director, in an effort to improve access to health care for the working, uninsured residents of Tuscarawas County that are living at or below 199% of the federal poverty level. The clinic serves patients between the ages of 18-64 years of age.
Wendy Thomas, an RN I worked with in the emergency room at Union Hospital, and I saw a lot of patients that were working but didnt make enough money to buy their own insurance. We wanted to start this clinic when we saw there was a lot of need. In order not to overwhelm ourselves we went to an Ohio Free Clinic Association conference, said Dr. Brenda Prince, medical director at the clinic. We learned a lot and met a lot of awesome people who encouraged us. We are not a faith based clinic but I know God played a role in this. Every time we hit an obstacle something or someone was there to help us.
In March the clinics board of directors announced Jamie L. Moore as the new executive director. Moore had been with Big Brothers Big Sisters for eight years before taking the job with the clinic. The non-profit aspect of this job is not new to me, said Moore. I am learning a lot and it is very challenging. I am fortunate to be working with a great group of people that all have the same mission of moving the clinic forward to be able to serve more patients.
As executive director, Moores basic responsibilities are to manage clinic staff and volunteers, manage and oversee clinic fiscal matters, including grants and fundraising, assure that the clinic is in compliance with all federal, state and local regulations and requirements and assist with special programs & events.
Tuscarawas County Commissioner, Chris Abbuhl was in attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony and said, I think that any time we can add something to the community like this organization for the working uninsured it is great. There are individuals that are able to share their time and talent and be able to help people in need. Any time we can do something to enhance the quality of life for folks in Tuscarawas County its great. The doctors and staff here that volunteer are much appreciated. Thats what makes our community great. The people who volunteer make our community better.
The clinic is staffed by volunteer physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers and others who believe good health can be obtained and maintained through the proper balance of exercise, nutrition, medical care and education.
Volunteer coordinator, Carol Dean said, We serve about 60 patients a month. Most of our patients are women between the ages of 45-60. We have been zeroing in on diabetes which seems to be one of the bigger problems for patients. We are working with student nurses from the area to provide care and education to patients and the students are getting hands on experience. The student nurses have plans for a community garden so they can teach patients about healthier diets and lifestyles. I believe we are improving the quality of life for our patients.
Currently the clinic is open Wednesdays from 1-9p.m. We would like to increase our hours as the demand for services increase, said Dean. Our ultimate goal would be to have a full time nurse practitioner on staff so the clinic can be opened five days a week, said Dr. Prince.
For more information about services available at The Tuscarawas Clinic for the Working Uninsured or volunteer opportunities call 330-364-1853 or visit their web site at www.tuscarawasclinic.org.
