Are you concerned about the high cost of medical care and medicine? Have you ever wondered what the poor do to get their medical needs met?

The citizens of Todd County, population of about 12,000, wondered as well. This was especially true after Ardco, the largest factory in the county, shut down in January 2001. The loss of this one business left 350 to 400 people out of work, and without medical insurance for themselves and their families. They were not alone in their concern however. Several parishioners from St. Susan’s Parish in Elkton, Kentucky, saw the need and were already at work to develop a nonprofit primary health care facility for the county.

A core group of parishioners met in January 1999 to discuss a shared dream for a free clinic in Todd County, Kentucky. The group was composed of: Aida Moreno, a Glenmary Sisters Lay volunteer, Glenmary Fr. Tom Charters, Glenmary Bro. Ken Woods, Dr. Tom and. Kit Grabenstein, Susan Hightower and later, Sr. Bernadette Hengstebeck, Denny and Stephanie Ritchie, both attorneys, and Bryan Blount, the former Mayor of Elkton. All were members of St. Susan’s, a parish with less than 100 members.

There were a number of obstacles to overcome. Among other things, the new clinic would need to be licensed by the state of Kentucky, obtain malpractice insurance, obtain the help of a licensed pharmacist, and establish financial guidelines. The clinic would need the services of a Medical Director and an Administrative Director for the clinic. In addition to these, the group would need to provide the funding for the clinic, choose a name, file papers for incorporation, find a location, staff for the facility, and select the Board of Directors.

The process took 15 months to accomplish and the clinic opened its doors in March 2000. A Board of Directors was recruited, made up of a cross-section of community leaders. The process of incorporation took six months to accomplish.

Funding was made possible by the generosity of many benefactors.

After two years of operation the clinic has served over 800 people, with an average of 200 to 300 patients seen monthly. Many of these people had not seen a doctor in 20 years. The clinic now has three paid employees: the Director, Carrie Biddle; Nurse Practitioner, Jane Robison; and a Drug Replacement Coordinator, Rita Brown. The clinic also offers training opportunities for several people from Rets Medical and Business Institute. The facility is open four days per week and does not charge for services to those at or below 185 percent of the poverty level.

The clinic does not provide services that the local health department provides, such as pregnancy tests, and urine screening, but it does offer patients free medication donated by pharmaceutical companies. Once per month, patients can come in to the facility, and pick up their medications. When necessary, eligible patients can receive needed tests with certain hospitals in the area.

The Helping Hands Health Clinic is an example of what can be done when people of faith work together.