Reprinted with permission from The Messenger
by: Lori Harrison, staff writer
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Hopkins County Community Clinic is set to receive a financial booster shot.
A weekend of fundraisers is being planned next month to benefit the organization, better known to patients as the “free clinic.” It provides health care to working adults who lack insurance and meet income guidelines.
The clinic has a regular client base of more than 500 patients who come in at least every six months.
“I know that there’s a ton of agencies in town, all of them are very good ... but nothing is more basic than your health care,” said Executive Director Walt Cramer. “They go untreated, which is even more costly to society than if they are treated.
“I feel very passionately about what we do here,” he said.
The fundraisers set for July 13-14 include a bridge tournament, gala and golf tournament. They are sponsored by Friends of the Hopkins County Community Clinic and organized by Trover Health System.
“I really believe that part of our community service is to support activities that will help those that don’t have access to the care they should,” said Trover CEO and President Bert Whitaker. “We feel like we should support that mission.”
The clinic, which is located on the second floor of the Trover Foundation building, receives funds from the city of Madisonville and Hopkins County governments as well as United Way of Hopkins County. “Other than that, we have been out beating the bushes,” said board member Rod Tompkins.
About 6,100 people in Hopkins County — that’s 13 percent of the population — lack insurance, Cramer said.
New patients must fill out an application that includes verification of income. To qualify, applicants’ income must be 185 percent of the poverty level or less. For example, a family of one may have an annual income of $18,888 and a family of four may make $38,203. No children are treated at the clinic.
The majority of patients are treated for diabetes or high blood pressure.
“We have so many patients who have gone so long without regular care that it’s taken a while for them to get back into manageable condition,” Cramer said.
Free or reduced-price medications may be the biggest benefit the clinic provides.
“Some of these medications are terribly expensive,” he said. “Some of these people could probably scrape up $75 to go to the doctor, but some of these medications run $300-$400.”
The clinic has two full-time and three part-time employees, including a nurse practitioner. Much of the care is provided with the help of volunteer hours given by physicians, local University of Louisville medical students, nurses, nursing students and others.
The Hopkins County Clinic Charity Weekend starts July 13 with a bridge tournament and luncheon at Trover Tower from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Cost is $20 per person.
That evening, there will be a gala celebration at Madisonville Golf and Country Club. The event will include cocktail hour, a prime rib dinner and dancing. The cost is $50 per person, and cocktail attire is requested.
“There’s really nothing else like it in Hopkins County,” said Trover Health System spokeswoman Kristen Johnson.
The golf tournament will be held July 14 at Madisonville Golf and Country Club, with shotgun starts at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cost is $75 per player. For more information, contact Johnson at 825-5290.
“The first year is the toughest because we don’t know what to expect,” she said. “We hope to make it something people in the community will look forward to.”
Community clinic officials have wanted to develop a signature annual event for several years, Tompkins said.
“We hope for it to be an annual thing,” he said.
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