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Good Sam meets health-care needs and more

Tracy Farnham | The News Herald

Ann Ingram, RN, discusses information with Dr. Tammy Boyd at the Good Samaritan Clinic.

By Tracy Farnham | The News Herald

Published: March 19, 2009

MORGANTON - Tuesday morning started with prayer at Good Samaritan Clinic. As on most days, staff and volunteers gathered in the chapel to ask for guidance to meet the needs of the uninsured and underinsured in Burke County.
These servants are willing to be the hands and feet of Christ at the clinic started in 1996.
"It's such a blessing to work here," said Angie Pettus, clinic coordinator and a registered nurse on staff at Good Samaritan Clinic.
The prayer time is for anyone who wants to come and pray, she added, and patients are included during the evening clinics.
"As we see our patients, if they need prayer, we will pray with them, but we don't force an opportunity," Pettus said. "Mainly we want people to know we love them unconditionally as God loves them. They are a child of God just as we are."
As an interdenominational Christian ministry, Good Samaritan Clinic provides free medical care, medications and mental-health support to Burke County residents who have no Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance or can't afford care. In addition to meeting immediate health-care needs, the clinic provides preventative medicine, patient education and health maintenance.
The clinic had nearly 1,000 patients in 2008. To date in 2009, it has seen 548, "...so we're already busier this year and have seen an increase in need," Pettus said.
"We see about 25 patients a day. Anyone over 18, a Burke resident, who doesn't have insurance or Medicare or Medicaid who is at 200 percent of the federal poverty level or less and even folks who still work can be seen."
She said, "We serve so many in need. So many have gone without care because they didn't think they could get to a doctor for management of existing conditions"
The clinic has one full-time staff doctor, Dr. Tammy Byrd, and a part-time volunteer doctor, Dr. Robert Leo. Other physicians who volunteer their time on Tuesday and Thursday evenings include specialists in OB/GYN, orthopedics, chiropractic and family internal medicine.
Several grants, community organizations and individual donations support the clinic.
"The number of grants available is becoming smaller and with more people applying it is very difficult to get those grants," she said.
The community's support is what really sustains the clinic, she said.
The clinic "pretty much functions like any other doctor's office, and we do referrals," Pettus said.
Patients check in at the front desk before being taken to one of four exam rooms.
Blue Ridge HealthCare and Lab Corp provide in-kind services such as diagnostic tests, mammograms, x-rays, CT/MRI and lab work.
Medication is provided through the clinic's own pharmacy and dispensed by Jeff Martin, pharmacy director, or by a number of pharmacists who volunteer to help in the evenings.
"We are in need of volunteer pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and we always need volunteer nurses, phlebotomists and clerical support," Pettus noted.
She said the clinic also tries to work on disease prevention and management.
"We are providing more breast health education through the Komen grant and we teach how to do exams during seminars that are open to the public," Pettus said.
As in any clinic, there is lots of paper work, "but we love to treat people, not document," Pettus said. "The most important thing is taking care of somebody. It is a wonderful privilege to be here and serve. You can see how you have helped people every day. It gets us back to why we go to nursing school."
Pettus praised the clinic's board for its work and volunteerism.
"Without the board of directors to lead this organization and plan for our future, we wouldn't be here," Pettus said. "They are very supportive."
Todd Carswell recently was named board chairman.

More
Golf tourney will benefit Good Sam Clinic
Christie Buckland, volunteer coordinator, is organizing the 11th annual invitational golf tournament for the Good Samaritan Clinic.
Teams need to register by March 27 for the April 3 tournament at Silver Creek Plantation.
"We have around six teams, and we would love to have 18 or 20," Jeff Martin said.
The 2008 tournament raised more than $6,000.
Call 439-9945, Ext. 266, for information, to register or to volunteer your help.