Clinic offers care to those unable to afford it

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Janet Cordell takes Yvonne Henneke’s blood pressure at Enid Community Clinic.

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February 20, 2010

By Bridget Nash Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle The Enid News and Eagle Sat Feb 20, 2010, 10:29 PM CST

ENID — More people in the nation are losing jobs and health insurance, but Enid Community Clinic has not seen drastic changes because of the economic downturn.

“We’re probably seeing a few more,” said Janet Cordell, clinic nurse coordinator and board chair.

Cordell said clinic volunteers did their best to prepare for a large influx of patients due to the economy but there has not been much change.

Enid Community Clinic is open most Tuesdays to help meet medical needs for those who can’t afford health care and have no insurance. It is operated by volunteers.

“We have no paid people at all,” said Cordell. “We’ve had a great deal of support from the community and the medical community.”

The clinic, 1106 E. Broadway, began in the mid-1990s to relieve emergency rooms overloaded with non-emergency patients who had nowhere else to go. Emergency rooms cannot deny care due to a lack of insurance or the money.

The clinic’s volunteers include doctors, nurses, social workers, a nurse practitioner and a pharmacist. They see patients with non-emergency medical problems that cannot be treated anywhere else for free or little money.

“We don’t duplicate services,” said Cordell. The clinic does not see patients for mental disorders or pregnancy-related health care.

“We see a lot of diabetes, type one and two; we see a lot of hypertension, COPD, lung problems,” said Cordell. “Then we see a lot of episodic stuff: ear infections, flu, pneumonia.”

Some of the clinic’s patients are regular and some visit only once.

“We have patients who utilize us on a fairly regular basis,” said Cordell. “And we have patients who have fallen on hard times. They have had insurance before and they will probably have it again but that doesn’t help them right now. We basically care for those who are uninsured.”

Recently, with help from United Way funding, the clinic has been able to partner with Community Development Support Association to create a medical supply co-operative. Donated medical supplies, not equipment, can be kept in a storage area, and patients released from hospitals who need supplies at home — such as bandages or adult briefs — but can’t afford them can receive these items from Community Clinic.

“That’s one of the positives that has come out of here and the generous nature of the people around here,” said Cordell.

Even though the clinic is only open one evening a week, Cordell said volunteers are looking to expand services to include educational classes such as smoking cessation, nutrition and financial counseling.

The location is good for holding classes, said Cordell.

She said patients don’t take the clinic for granted and even make small donations whenever possible.

“Our patients are very appreciative,” said Cordell.

Patients who want to be seen at the clinic Tuesday evenings must be there by 5.

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