Upland Hills Health support of the Free Clinic pays off during August downpour

At the June 2007 meeting the Upland Hills Health Board of Directors agreed to support the expansion of the Connections Free Clinic with $35,000 worth of funding.

The investment allows the free clinic—located in the old Metropolitan Art building on Iowa Street—to move from the cramped 1st floor area it shares with other community resources to the ground floor.

Specifically the money was used for water remediation and trenching in the concrete floor. Project Manager Joe Weier explained that the trenching was done just in time: “The concrete floor was complete in July and everything was bone dry. Then the August rains came and now there is a regular fresh water spring running through the trenches.”

Free Clinic Construction Project Manager Joe Weier reviews ground floor layout with Patricia Lawson, Director of Marketing & Community Relations at Upland Hills Health.

The trenching was done for just such weather—allowing excess moisture to flow away and out of the building with minimal maintenance issues. It was the first and necessary step in the free clinic expansion.

Currently the Free Clinic occupies two exam rooms and minimal common space. By remodeling the ground floor of the building, the Free Clinic will be able to expand to four larger exam rooms and serve more un-insured, low income patients. The remodel also makes room for a proposed dental clinic for Medicaid recipients with four dental chairs and a common area shared by the free medical and Medicaid dental clinics.

“It is in our community’s best interest to see that the Free Clinic is successful,” stated Karl Pustina, CFO of Upland Hills Health and member of the free clinic board. “As an organization we are committed to finding solutions that will address the health care needs of our community. This donation demonstrates just that.”

Upland Hills Health has also budgeted to provide $60,000 in lab and radiology services to the Community Connections Free Clinic.