TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

A Mission Of Health Care

Jasmina Meyer, Highlands Today

Samaritan's Touch Care Center's Director of Clinical Operations Francine Whitman, RN works in the dispensary after a weekly staff meeting on Tuesday in Sebring.

ADVERTISEMENT

By LAURA NESBITT

Highlands Today

Published: April 1, 2009

Updated:

SEBRING - The man was an alcoholic with no money, and he had a blood clot in his leg that could have killed him.

"The size of his right leg was twice as big as the other," said Luis Pena, medical director at the Samaritan's Touch Care Center in Sebring, who saw the man at the clinic last Friday.

"The majority of our patients have nothing - no money whatsoever."

Pena spoke at a weekly staff meeting on Tuesday. The clinic has been open for almost two years and provides primary and specialized care to area families who have no medical insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. Their incomes must be at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines.

"We serve people on the streets, living out in the woods ...," said Clinical Director Francine Whitman.

"And the working poor who are living paycheck to paycheck, who can't afford to put food on their tables," said Diana S. Furr, executive director.

A 2005 study by the Agency for Health Care Administration found there were 61,400 people in Highlands County under age 65. Of those people, 11,850 or 19.3 percent had no health insurance. The study was prepared by the University of Florida.

Furr said the need is going up because of the waiting list to see a physician at the clinic.

"We're operating at capacity," Furr said.

The clinic has seven paid full-time and one part-time staff. There are also about 75 volunteers who donated 11,500 hours last year. Since opening, more than $3 million in medical care has been given by various medical organizations, physicians and dentists.

Donations are both small and large.

Two patients with rheumatoid arthritis needed monthly treatments costing $8,000 each of Remicade. Centocor Inc. donated the $96,000 annual treatment for each patient, Furr said.

About 70 patients are seen at the clinic each week in two examination rooms. Last month about 700 people came to the clinic to refill their medications. At least 70 physicians, dentists and specialty providers are on the clinic's "waiting list" to donate their time and office facilities, Furr said.

That waiting list will be getting shorter because Cary Pigman, an emergency room physician, has begun donating his services on his day off to practice with Pena.

Although the staff meeting included prayer, patients are not screened on the basis of faith, Furr said. At the end of a visit, the patient is asked whether they would like to see a chaplain.

"Medical care is available to everyone," Furr said.

PATIENT DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:

•Hispanic - 45 percent;

•African-American - 15 percent;

•The rest are either non-Hispanic white with a small percentage of "other."

Most patients are under 65 years old. About 10 percent of patients are in their 60s.

Last year patients were seen for the following medical conditions:

•Muscular skeletal disease and connective tissue, like rheumatoid arthritis - 46 percent;

•Endocrine nutritional and metabolic disease, like diabetes - 38 percent;

•Circulatory problems, like high blood pressure - 38 percent; and

•Nervous system disorders, like Parkinson's disease - 34 percent.

Percentages exceed 100 percent because some patients have multiple diagnoses.

The clinic is open from Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about eligibility, call 471-1870.

Highlands Today reporter Laura Nesbitt can be reached at 863-386-5857 or lnesbitt@highlandstoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT