May 23, 2012
WARTBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - In this economy, thousands are ignoring medical concerns to pay bills and keep the gas tank full.
Online:
That's why the Morgan County Medical Center is "Bridging the Gap" with a free medical clinic in Wartburg on Wednesday.
The calls were still coming in to book appointments as workers at the center set up for their first free clinic.
More than 150 patients are expected, some getting health care for the first time in years.
Family Nurse Practitioner Pam Morton already has more than 20 patients scheduled.
In fact, every slot and every service is already full.
"People who may have chronic diseases that they know about that just keep getting worse and worse, like diabetes, and they're not receiving treatment for it," said Morton.
Administrator Theresa Brock says about 25% of their normal patients don't have insurance and many are underinsured.
There's already a sliding scale for fees, but it's still too much for some.
That's why the center teamed up with Rural Appalachian Project and other organizations to help bring care to folks who sacrificed for other needs.
"If you have a $35 deductible, you're going to hesitate about going to the provider and seeing someone if that $35 is going to help you pay for gas or your rent," said Brock.
On Wednesday, flu shots, blood pressure and diabetes checks, ultrasounds, even some dental procedures will all be free.
"We all deserve to live as healthy as we can, and that's what we try to do and that's what our providers are for. So we wanna them to keep coming to keep coming back and to help them moving forward," said Brock.
Brock's hoping that people who do come, also schedule follow-up visits to make sure they get the treatment they need.
Even though it's too late to book an appointment for the clinic, if you need health care you can still call the center and they'll help you however they can.
The phone number is: 423-346-6221
