Posted 11:41 am Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Bethesda Health Clinic Marks Five Years Of Service
By COSHANDRA DILLARD
Staff Writer
Board members, early organizers and volunteers at the Bethesda Health Clinic gathered Tuesday to celebrate the clinic's mission, which is heavily supported by the community through donations and volunteerism.
The medical and dental clinic began five years ago to provide health services to the working uninsured in Tyler and Smith County. State Rep. Leo Berman, who also serves as a board member, was on hand at the event and U.S. Congressman Louie Gohmert's district director Jonna Fitzgerald presented the clinic with a flag that had flown at the Capitol. As everyone gathered, reminisced and snacked, they were all brought together because of a common goal: to help heal and uplift the working poor.
Staff Writer
Board members, early organizers and volunteers at the Bethesda Health Clinic gathered Tuesday to celebrate the clinic's mission, which is heavily supported by the community through donations and volunteerism.
The medical and dental clinic began five years ago to provide health services to the working uninsured in Tyler and Smith County. State Rep. Leo Berman, who also serves as a board member, was on hand at the event and U.S. Congressman Louie Gohmert's district director Jonna Fitzgerald presented the clinic with a flag that had flown at the Capitol. As everyone gathered, reminisced and snacked, they were all brought together because of a common goal: to help heal and uplift the working poor.
IN THE BEGINNING
The doors to the clinic opened on Sept. 6, 2003, with 17 patients waiting to receive care.
The clinic has certainly grown in its five years, going from 372 patient visits in the first year of operation, to more than 10,000 in 2008. Back then, the clinic received patients on Saturdays only and now, patients are seen Monday through Friday and during some evenings.
The budget has stretched from $139,000 to about $881,000 today and donations have nearly doubled.
Office volunteers Lou Ann Smoot and Beverly Castleberry were both there from the beginning, when, instead of rooms, there were "MASH" units separated by shower curtains. The two women recounted how a mop closet was transformed into a pharmacy and the clinic's first supply of medicine came from a roundup of samples from local physicians' offices.
Even before the clinic opened, they stayed busy at an office building on Broadway Avenue in anticipation of the new clinic. There was a lot of paperwork and phones ringing off the hook once word got out that the low-cost clinic for uninsured people was coming to town.
Castleberry noted how the clinic is a way to serve people who work hard each day, but make difficult decisions when it comes to health care.
"This is for those in the middle that work but must choose between feeding their children and paying for insurance," Mrs. Castleberry said. "They are the backbone of our country."
THE MISSION
The name "Bethesda" literally means house of mercy in Hebrew and organizers of the health clinic felt the name appropriate for their mission. According to the Book of John, chapter five in the Bible, Bethesda was a pool near Jerusalem that healed the sick when the water was stirred by angel.
The. Rev. Patricia Mallory, of First Baptist Church, worked with Dr. Michael Massar and other organizers on an objective that others said could not happen in Tyler. She ventured to Memphis, Tenn. in 1999, where a similar clinic existed, to gather ideas.
"It was all very exciting to see how God supplies everything we need before we know we need it," Rev. Mallory said. "I hope it continues to grow and expand and possibly having other sites. There's still a great need out there."
The clinic not only provides affordable health care and screenings, but has enlisted a number of programs including a diabetes program, wellness center, dental services and a prescription assistance program, which is the result of a collaboration with PATH, or People Attempting to Help.
Patients pay $10 to $25 per visit, depending on treatment and ability to pay. They must work 20 hours per week, have no insurance and have an income at or below 200 percent of the poverty level.
THE FUTURE
If you speak to anyone associated with Bethesda Health Clinic, he or she will tell you how pleased they are with the overwhelming support it has garnered from the community and how they anticipate more growth.
The board meets six times a year and may soon be looking into expanding outside of Tyler.
Dr. Grace English is a past medical director of the clinic and returned as a volunteer. She said she also hopes they are able to provide more ancillary testing for patients.
"It just seems like a blur," she said, about the clinic's fast growth. "God has just brought so many people together to make this thing work."
Executive Director Dr. John English added, "It has grown astronomically and I think it says something about the community who are willing to come out and support us. I see the continued growth with the dental services and making a deeper impact in people's lives."
With Bethesda being one of only seven non-profit clinics providing such services to uninsured working citizens, Berman recognized the impact that the clinic has in the community.
"When I go to the legislature, I tell them about Bethesda and they don't believe me," Berman said.
"I tell them I'm so impressed with what they do here and I want to be a part of it. If Bethesda were not here, people would expect the government to provide this service. That's why it is important to East Texas and the whole state. It's a great example to follow."
