EDITOR'S NOTE: This the first of an occasional series of guest columns focusing on United Way agencies in Pasco County.
The Good Samaritan Health Clinic of Pasco Inc., at 4035 Thys Road, New Port Richey, provides medical and dental care to low-income residents of Pasco County. Next month, we begin our 14th year. Our patients, almost 2,500 last year and 2,100 through the first 10 months of this year, are Pasco residents who do not have health insurance, do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid and do not have the financial means to pay for medical or dental care.
In early 1990, a group of dedicated individuals including physicians, dentists, lawyers and many others including Commissioner Ann Hildebrand recognized an urgent unfulfilled need for health care services for needy members of our community. The clinic opened its doors in a small house (donated by a physician who still donates his time at the clinic) containing three small examination rooms. A dental clinic also started in this small building.The clinic workers realized after opening their doors what a great need existed. In February 1990, a grant enabled the purchase of the 6,600-square-foot building where the clinic is now located. The clinic has seven exam rooms, an EKG Room and a state-licensed pharmacy. The dental clinic has five examination and treatment rooms.In 1996, the Pasco Health Care Clinic sponsored by the Pasco County Medical Society, merged with the Good Samaritan Health Clinic to create a unified, vibrant organization dedicated to providing top-quality medical and dental services.
The clinic is open two nights a week for adult medical care, and one night for dental extractions. Additionally, the clinic offers hepatitis C clinics on the third Monday and second Thursday of each month. Recently, we started an asthma and pulmonary clinic for patients needing special treatment. We have been fortunate to receive the donation of two very costly machines to be able to test these patients and be better able to treat them. One Saturday a month we offer gynecology services. This clinic is also open to prequalified women of the community needing Pap smears and mammograms. We were fortunate to have St. Joseph's Women's Hospital of Tampa send its mobile mammogram unit allowing us to do mammograms on site. Additionally, we offer support classes for our diabetic and Hepatitis C patients. People 18 to 65 needing services can call the clinic Monday through Thursday at (727) 848-7789.
The clinic does not offer emergency treatment. If a condition is life-threatening, the patient is directed to the nearest hospital. Additionally, the clinic cannot provide treatment for fractures, second opinions, annual checkups, birth control, pregnancy tests, prenatal care, tests or treatment for HIV, sexually transmitted diseases or tuberculosis. We also do not provide evaluation for disability, workers' compensation, litigation, employment or preemployment physicals. We do not provide controlled medications, anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications.Paperwork to meet eligibility requirements must be completed by each patient prior to their initial visit. A $5 copayment is requested of each patient for each visit. Picture identification is required as proof of Pasco County residency.
More than 400 licensed health care providers volunteered their time for the year ending June 2003. The value of their donated services is $791,700. The value of donations, which include pharmaceuticals, eyeglasses, labs, X-rays and hospitals was more than $816,000. This is a total of more than $1.6-million worth of donated goods and services.
We have more than 60 volunteers who donate their time to the clinic each month. These include pharmacists, nurses, medical technicians, clerical staff and others who do everything from housekeeping to building maintenance. Simply put, our volunteers do a great job. And those numbers do not include all the physicians, dentists and nurse practitioners who rotate through the clinic each month providing quality care.
Good Samaritan Health Clinic is privileged to have many community partners including Community Hospital, Meadow Lane Surgery Center, New Port Richey Surgery Center, North Bay Hospital, Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, Trinity Outpatient Center and Radiology Associates. All accept our qualified patients at no cost. Dr. Marc Yacht, director of the Pasco County Health Department, and his staff are also major contributors of their time and talents to the clinic. Without these dedicated partners and many others, the clinic simply could not exist.
The clinic receives a Community Development Block Grant for medications and laboratory services. Recently, we received two grants: one for our Hepatitis C clinics from the Blue Foundation of Florida (a foundation set up by Blue Cross Blue Shield) and the other from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to assist us in providing mammograms.The Pasco County Medical Society, Medical Society Alliance and West Pasco Dental Association are major contributors.
United Way of Pasco continues to be our angel. This is a partnership we value and consider it a privilege to be a United Way agency.
- Barbara A. Holton has been the executive director of the Good Samaritan Health Clinic for nine years and volunteered there before assuming the directorship.
