Good Samaritan Clinic in DeLand passes 1,000 patients

By Pat Hatfield
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Aug 16, 2008 - 6:32:04pm

Good Samaritan Clinic, DeLand's faith-based provider of free medical care for the poor, has caught the eye of The Blue Foundation of Florida, a philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida..

Officials from the foundation will visit the clinic Friday, Aug. 22, to present a check for $20,000 to help cover the expense of lab work and testing for clinic patients who could not otherwise afford the tests. The grant will cover a two-year period.

Good Samaritan opened at 312 W. New York Ave. in DeLand on Oct. 22, 2007, near St. Peter Catholic Church. It offers free primary health care to West Volusians who don't have insurance and don't qualify for Medicaid. There are income guidelines.

Staffed by an ecumenical group of volunteer physicians, nurses and administrative staff, and supported by prayer ministers, the clinic built up steam slowly, with patients trickling in as news of its opening spread.

Now, the place is jumping during office hours, which are on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.

"We have surpassed 1,000 patient visits since October," clinic administrator Mary Gusky said. She was delighted at the news of the The Blue Foundation grant.

The clinic has more than 355 regular patients now.

Good Samaritan Clinic started with the vision of Father Tom Connery at St. Peter, and is housed in a building owned by the church. Its staff is ecumenical.

Pastor John Joslin of Oasis (formerly New Life Community Church) and his wife, Pat, both nurses, are active volunteers. Nurse practitioner Cathy Puhr and Dr. Lawrence Gilliard, medical director, are key supporters, along with other doctors and nurses of diverse faiths who also volunteer their time.

The local community has also shown its support.

Most recently, the DeLand Breakfast Rotary gave the clinic a $500 grant to help with expenses, and the DeLand Noon Rotary added $250 to that. Individuals contribute much more.

Gusky said she and everyone at the clinic appreciate this support. Operating funds to cover routine expenses are essential.

The clinic also needs a new EKG machine to replace an aging one.

"They don't make parts for it any more," Gusky said.

Another item on the needs list is a pulmonary-function-test machine, plus another exam room to handle the influx of patients.

Gusky said a fund-raising dinner is in the works, set for Thursday, Oct. 23, at First Baptist Church of DeLand. The time is to be set. A similar dinner at First United Methodist Church of DeLand last year kick-started funding for the clinic. Gusky is looking for volunteers to host tables.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call the clinic at (386) 738-6990.

— pat@beacononlinenews.com

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