March 28, 2024

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Well being care personnel volunteering their time & skills at free of charge health-related clinic in Clay County

Green COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – It is almost nothing extravagant on the exterior, the website of an outdated church on Houston Road in Eco-friendly Cove Srpings. But within, it’s what some phone the response to prayer.

It’s called The Way Totally free Clinical Clinic, and the men and women who work there — and those who go there — say it is displaying thousands of underserved people today in Clay County the way to excellent overall health.

“One out of each and every 7 citizens in Clay County are suitable, and they want it,” stated The Way Govt Director Don Fann.

Fann claimed The Way presents thousands of treatment options just about every 12 months to uninsured, very low-profits residents in the county and depends thoroughly on donated money.

“In Clay County, we are the only cost-free health-related clinic,” Fann reported. “We are the only 1 that does not demand everyone for anything at all. We elevate 100% of the income that it usually takes to do that.”

Fann explained The Way is operated by a group of focused local community-minded volunteers, which features doctors, nurses and other health-related specialists. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the clinic had about 125 volunteers. It operates with a team of 12 who assistance individuals donating their time.

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“God gifted me with this expertise, and it’s up to me to use it,” said certified sensible nurse Geri Leatherbury. “And I just genuinely like helping individuals, and I really don’t need to get the job done, so now it’s time to give again.”

Doctors like Dr. Wen Wu, a resident with Ascension St. Vincent’s, spend hrs at The Way.

“It is very sad to see individuals who arrive below and needing treatment, and they’ve hardly ever been noticed by a doctor for numerous, quite a few many years until eventually they come listed here,” Wu claimed. “To me, this is a incredibly gratifying encounter, realizing that I’m really supporting these people who are extremely in require of health-related treatment. To me, this is big, and that’s why I really like performing this.”

The Way No cost Healthcare Clinic is located on Houston Street in Environmentally friendly Cove Springs. (WJXT)

Information4JAX was there as Wu addressed a Clay County female who’s been coming to The Way for 14 yrs. Through that time, all a few of Nati Hernandez’s kids have been born with the enable of the doctors and nurses at the clinic, together with her daughter who was diagnosed with a scarce issue. That baby is on Medicare, but Hernandez is not.

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Hernandez spoke with News4JAX by the enable of an interpreter.

“For me, this is all I have right here, The Way Clinic,” Hernandez stated.

When asked exactly where she would go if she did not know about The Way, Hernandez stated: “It would be so tough because there are not a lot locations that get care of folks with out insurance.”

Registered nurse Maribel Pumarejo is a licensed diabetes educator and translates for Spanish-speaking clients even though supporting all those with diabetic issues who can’t afford not to get the care. Pumarejo states diabetic issues can be deadly.

“It’s a persistent condition, but it could be controlled offered the correct facts and schooling that they will need, so we’re in this article to assistance them,” Pumarejo stated.

Those who give their time at the clinic say this cost-free clinic isn’t what some would be expecting.

“Many of our employees members are portion of the neighborhood. They know the sufferers. They know their households. Absolutely everyone is quite interconnected below,” said The Way professional medical director Dr. Harry Madhanagopal.

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Madhanagopal is a previous Navy doctor who operates at Ascension St. Vincent’s. He suggests The Way is a remarkably heat and inviting atmosphere in which people are dealt with with dignity.

“It does truly feel like, getting again in the Navy because, when you are deployed, you type of have to be quite inventive about how you take treatment of persons,” Madhanagopal mentioned.

Often that creativeness comes into engage in because of to minimal assets just indicates finding a professional.

“If we simply cannot take treatment of it here, at the very least sort of get the affected individual shifting in the suitable course or at the very least test to hook up with any experts in the area who can at least pick up the baton and sort of carry on the treatment for that affected individual, as perfectly, far too,” Madhanagopal said.

Wu agrees, saying: “I want to get the phrase out to the neighborhood and enable them know if you are uninsured, if you do not have satisfactory wellbeing care and are needing to see someone, The Way clinic is right here for you. We are usually listed here, and we want to do the most effective for you.”

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Fann suggests The Way was just chosen as the sole web site for the federal Navigator system in Clay County for the Cost-effective Treatment Act insurance procedures and is now an enrollment centre.

He methods the clinic is in need to have of volunteers and sponsors. lf you’re intrigued in supporting The Way, go to thewayclinic.org.

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