Daylong clinic to provide free health services

COEUR d'ALENE - Community organizations will work together Aug. 14 to provide health care at no cost for people who fall through the cracks.

Dirne Community Health Center will work with Lake City Community Church, the Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy, Kootenai Health and the Medical Reserve Corps through the Panhandle Health District to offer a daylong clinic with doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and more.

The clinic is for uninsured people with medical conditions that need attention but are easy to postpone because the conditions don't require immediate care.

Dirne will screen potential patients by phone prior to Aug. 14 and give appointments to those people with medical problems appropriate for the special clinic. People wanting appointments should call 415-0286 to register before Aug. 14.

Dirne, a federally qualified health center, has adjusted its daily schedule so people who need immediate care can get help within 24 hours. But people with chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure often wait weeks for an opening because their needs aren't immediate.

"New patients have to wait six weeks before we can get them in," says Mike Baker, Dirne's CEO. "We don't have enough providers to help everyone. This clinic came about because we want to help folks who are struggling."

More than 150 people have volunteered their services for the special clinic, including 20 doctors.

The special clinic was the brainchild of Dr. Joe Abate and Rick Croyle from Lake City Community Church. The church wanted a medical mission at home for its parishioners and offered to help eliminate the waiting list for the Dirne health center with a special clinic. Baker began organizing.

The Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy offered the use of its building. The church offered volunteers to care for children, give haircuts to patients, and provide meals for volunteers. Kootenai Health offered medical help, which the clinic will take as patient follow-up services. The Medical Reserve Corps offered about 25 nurses and 25 clerical workers to help Dirne's medical staff and other volunteers.

"I had no problem finding volunteers," says Judith Scarborough, MRC coordinator at Panhandle Health District. "They want to do something and this was the perfect opportunity."

Pre-registration for the special clinic is necessary. Patients may register by calling 415-0286 before Aug. 14.