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Volunteers doctoring up free clinic

Board, leaders sign on, but they still need more money

By Mike Conley | The McDowell News

Published: November 22, 2009

The planned Good Samaritan Clinic of McDowell County has a board of directors, a medical director and a plan of action to help local folks who don't have health insurance. However, the new free clinic still needs to raise money before it can start seeing patients.
Last month, the deacons of the First Baptist Church of Marion voted unanimously to endorse the new Good Samaritan Clinic and allow it to receive mail temporarily at the church's office. The deacons also agreed to allow the clinic to temporarily come under the church's nonprofit status. This means people who want to donate to the effort should write their checks payable to the First Baptist Church of Marion but specify that it is going to the free Good Samaritan Clinic. The money would be transferred to the clinic.
This action by the First Baptist Church's deacons was taken to help get it started. Attorney Steve Little, who is chairman of the deacons and the mayor-elect for Marion, has donated his legal services to the fledging clinic.
In addition, the Good Samaritan Clinic now has a board of directors. Insurance agent Phil Tate was recently elected as the board's chairman and YMCA Director Tim Blenco was chosen as the vice chairman. Registered nurse Terry Menard is the secretary and Beth Burleson is the treasurer.
The other members of the board are physician Dr. Greg Constanzo, registered nurse Sandra Jones, EMS Director William Kehler, City Councilman Billy Martin, businesswoman Beth Ross and bankers Beth Walker and David Wooten.
Furthermore, Dr. Don Teater will be the medical director for the new clinic. He runs two free clinics in Haywood County and started another in Robbinsville. Jaime Rankin Stone will be the clinic's director. A local physician has offered the use of some office space for the clinic when it is ready to open.
"The only thing keeping us from opening the clinic is the lack of funds for liability, malpractice and board of directors' insurance," said Stone.
The directors behind the free clinic held a yard sale during the Mountain Glory festival, which raised about $700. In addition, the clinic has gotten a $2,000 gift to help it get started. But it needs $5,000 to pay for the insurance before it can open.
"We're close to halfway there," said Tate.
He added the directors are looking to get grants from the Duke Endowment and the N.C. Association of Free Clinics.
"We also would love for every church in McDowell County to donate $100 so that each church feels like they own a piece of the clinic," said Stone. "And we need both medical and clerical volunteers to staff our new clinic."
Tate said the directors are looking for a pharmacist who is willing to help.
No one at Good Samaritan will be paid for the first year.
"Everybody's volunteering their time," said Tate.
A target date for the opening has not been set. Tate said more information about the location and the hours will be announced later as the clinic gets closer to being ready.
"We want to open as soon as we can because we have patients with needs," he said.
For more information or to make a donation, call Jaime Rankin Stone at 460-6832 or Phil Tate at 652-7414.