Free health care on the Palouse

April 28--Palouse residents have a new option when it comes to health care -- and it doesn't cost a dime.

Open for just a few hours in the evening each Tuesday at Pullman Regional Hospital'sSpecialty Clinic, the nonprofit Palouse Free Clinic was created to provide another health care choice to low-income residents, though the care is available for anyone.

"It's designed for underinsured and uninsured populations, but we don't have any eligibility requirements. You come in and we see you, that's it," said Namita Crow, who chairs the marketing and volunteer committees for the clinic.

Just a few weeks after an initial soft opening, patients are trickling in, which she said is allowing them to work out some of the kinks to make sure they'll have the highest quality of service possible when they start getting a higher volume of patients.

"We just wanted to see how it goes, to see what kinds of things we would be dealing with," Crow said. "We've learned a lot so far -- how to run it, how many people we need, what works best, those kinds of things."

The idea for the clinic actually began with Crow. The recent Washington State University graduate with a degree in medical science was working last year on a community outreach project with the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students. The one-time event was set to bring local doctors from the community to provide free health care.

Through the event, she connected with local physician Dr. Stephen Hall, and together they decided to expand her project.

"The idea for a free clinic, or something like it, has been on my mind for several years now, so when Namita approached me with the idea to do a one-time event like that, I thought, 'Why not make it permanent?' " Hall said.

As a doctor, Hall said he has seen many people struggle to pay for care, and believes there are many who feel they simply can't access it because of the cost.

Even with the Affordable Care Act, he said there are still lots of people without health insurance, and many doctors are reluctant to take on new Medicaid patients since it doesn't pay very well.

Hall said he believes the clinic could help volunteer physicians get back in touch with the reason they originally got into medicine.

"Most physicians go into health care because they want to help people," he said. "It's important for us, as providers, to find a way to give back, to help people without thinking about getting something in return."

When Crow and Hall began looking into the possibility of setting up such a clinic, they found a natural partner in the Pullman Community Action Center, which is now the clinic's parent organization.

Director of the CAC, Jeff Guyette, said the results of a needs assessment survey from last year identified the cost of health care and access to affordable health care as the top two issues facing their clientele, and when he heard about what they were trying to do he was eager to get on board.

Their partnership also gives them the opportunity to provide a more holistic approach for patients as well, Guyette said, so if a low-income patient comes in with bronchitis, an illness possibly exacerbated by the fact they aren't able to afford heating in their home, the clinic can also offer them help in that area as well.

"It's not only about connecting with the health needs of the individual, but also connecting them with other resources, always meeting the full needs of that low-income client or patient," he said.

Within the community, the support and volunteers have made the possibility of the clinic a reality. Sid's Pharmacy is providing both free and low-cost prescription medication, several students in the University of Washington's medical school have volunteered time and Pullman Regional Hospital has provided space for the clinic to set up shop after normal business hours.

"We feel like it's important for the community, and we're very supportive of Dr. Hall's vision and the work with the Community Action Center," said Megan Guido, director of strategic initiatives and marketing with the hospital.

While their hope is to eventually expand the service, Guyette said they plan to take it slow, at least in the beginning.

"The goal is to start small, see what kind of demand comes in the door, then talk about what other services we might add."

The clinic is open 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays at Pullman Regional Hospital'sSpecialty Clinic.

Bill McKee can be reached at (208) 883-4627, or by email to [email protected].

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