A look back at Summit Township’s Community Health Clinic 1 year in
In its first year of operation, what was then known simply as the Community Health Clinic enrolled 600 county residents, saw more than 1,400 patient visits and hired five staff members, 83 full- and part-time volunteers, and two AmeriCorps members.
Jan. 15, 2009, was the first anniversary of the opening of the clinic, which was created by Jean B. Purvis as part of the Volunteers in Medicine system, which was founded in 1992.
Purvis and about two dozen Butler County health care and business leaders, plus other volunteers, worked for about two years to establish the clinic, in which health care professionals volunteer to help uninsured or underinsured residents.
Their goals were to help reduce emergency room overload caused by people who use hospitals for their primary health care or by those who have let their health become critical before seeking care because of their financial status.
Barb Briggs, of Saxonburg, said at the time the clinic had literally been a lifesaver.
“I have several ongoing health issues and if it weren’t for the clinic, I would be in the emergency room,” Briggs said. “Everyone is willing to help — to help find resources for me to use to get answers or additional medical help or respite care or just someone to talk to.”
Briggs said the staff makes the clinic a positive place.
“This place and the people who make it real are all wonderful,” Briggs said. “These people — the staff, the nurses, the volunteers — are wonderful and treat you like a person.”
