| Possumus Fall 2008 |
Partnerships |
Partnerships
WORKING ON A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY.
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Born of Necessity
The first St. Mary’s Health Clinic (SMHC) opened in 1992. It was staffed with loyal volunteers, many from the medical staff at St. Joseph’s. You might say those 30 volunteers were SMHC’s first partnership ever. Today 11 free community clinic sessions, staffed by 200 volunteers, operate in nine sites throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area ——three in St. Paul, two in Minneapolis and four in the suburbs. Rather than owning these clinic locations, the Sisters borrow them for a few hours each week from schools and churches (and even other clinics) that generously donate their time and space. One of these CSJ-operated clinics is located in the Midway area in St. Paul. Every other day of the week, it is the Seton OB/GYN clinic. But Tuesday afternoons St. Mary’s Health Clinic sign goes up and uninsured patients who have nowhere else to turn for primary care are welcomed in.
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A visit to the SMHC clinic is remarkable mostly for how unremarkable it is. In the small outer lobby, a middle-aged woman waits for her son who is in with the doctor. Later, a young mother comes in with two little girls in tow, who immediately are drawn to the marble maze in the corner. Beyond the waiting room door, there are two exam rooms. Today a doctor, a nurse practitioner and two RNs are in attendance. |
They volunteer their time, but there is nothing about the care here that screams free, poor, second-rate or handout. “To us, these aren’t poor people or uninsured people or minority people. They’re just patients, sick people,” says Sandy Morisette, RN. “I know they’re grateful for the support of the CSJs, and I certainly am, too. Without it, they’d get no care at all.”
Dr. Bradley Heltemes is a doctor of internal medicine. Most of the time, you’ll find him behind a desk assessing insurance needs at ING. But, for nine years, he’s been volunteering once or twice a month at SMHC. He says it’s his chance to practice hands-on medicine. “We may have limited resources to work with here,” he says, ”but we also have very appreciative patients.” For many of his repeat patients, Dr. Heltemes is their family doctor, and he knows very well how vital his care is to them. Continued...
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