12.06.2008

REACH Clinic Opens

Reaching out to provide Equitable Accessible Care for the Homeless.

The Pool has provided care to homeless patients since opening the doors of the free clinic in 2005. As a natural extension of that care, PA Strain partnered with Hope for the Homeless to provide medical assessment on outreach, visiting encampments in wooded areas, under bridges, in vacant houses, abandoned buildings and warehouses. Dr. Schulman joined the team a year ago devoting dozens of hours to the project. Over the last two years, the Pool has provided first aid and evaluation in the field and then enrolled those in need in the clinic for medical care and routine follow-up.

A significant obstacle to consistent care has always been transportation and compliance. To address the problems compounded in the homeless population and care for the increasing number of persons with medical problems identified on outreach or referred by other agencies, the REACH Clinic was opened. The Pool participated in the Stand Down 2008 for the Homeless and was able to enroll several patients referred by the medical stations for the first REACH clinic. Information cards were also provided for social service agencies and law enforcement personnel who have contact with homeless persons daily.

REACH is open Wednesdays from 2:00pm-5:00pm. Patients housed in missions such as Mother Stewart House, Rescue Mission or Salvation Army are given bus passes by those agencies and transportation for chronically homeless clients is provided by Hope of the Homeless. Patients are provided medical care, lab testing as needed and medication samples or gift cards. Anyone needing long term medications is enrolled in patient assistance programs. Outreach coordinator Brian Crowder, a licensed addiction counselor remains on site to provide his services. Layne Richardson, our favorite taxi driver blesses us with additional transportation when needed.

After clinic, the patients join everyone for fellowship at the Wednesday evening meal provided by Chef Pat and the New Room Outreach Ministries of Grace Community Church. The food pantry and clothes closet are also open.

Last week, patients and volunteers decorated the Christmas tree in the clinic and set-up tables in the fellowship hall. We discovered Danny's talent for grilling chicken and expect he will be back weekly. Everyone was taken back to their camps in time to beat the rainstorm.
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Bednar Clan on a Mission

Bednar Clan on a Mission
the Bednar family of Cleburne, Texas spent the day volunteering at the clinic. Amy took over nursing duties and lab draws, former Navy medic Dave helped with vitals and intake and the rest of the clan worked in the food bank and pharmacy.

ELEVATOR SPEECH

The Pool of Siloam Medical Ministry and Free Clinic is a non-profit faith-based organization created to share the Love of Jesus through ministry to the medically underserved. We believe that by building Christ-centered relationships built on mutual trust and respect and by providing our patients with tools of education, screening, medication assistance, medical supplies, equipment, counseling and accessible excellent health and dental care, we can empower them to take better care of themselves. Our services include free adult medical care, women's health clinic, mental health counseling and lab testing. Through our diabetic program, we provide routine diabetic eye exams and limb and wound evaluation. Our Breathe Free Program provides pulmonary function screening, medications, nebulizers, oxygen, CPAP and BiPAP equipment where indicated for cardiopulmonary patients. In partnership with other ministries at the New Room, we are able to provide meals, food and clothing. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, we join our friends from Hope for the Homeless to make rounds on the streets and in encampments to provide care and first aid.

With the exception of an Executive Director / Clinician, an Administrative Director and a counselor funded by the Methodist District, we are staffed by volunteers who provide hundreds of hours of service. We are housed by rental agreement in the New Room, an outreach mission center of Grace Community, a United Methodist congregation. We are funded by grants, gifts and in-kind donations. Your support makes it possible for us to continue to provide services for our patients.



Living by the Clock

to live each day without regret
to move to the tick of a finite clock
to live each day as if it were the last
before you stand before your God

to imagine that the person you love
might be gone tomorrow
that the moment for reconciliation
may be lost

that the friend not met
might have been your soul-mate
that the child left behind
might never be found

that the word not spoken
might have been someone’s salvation
that the life not saved
might have saved the world

that the wound not dressed
might fester and kill
that the path not taken
might have led to home

that the call not answered
might have been the voice of God
to live each day
as if it was your last

to celebrate each Sabbath in rest
like your life depended on it