Published: October 27, 2009 05:34 pm      

Health care: Free clinics face growing challenge

West Virginia’s 10 free health clinics, including Mercer Health Right in Green Valley, are handling a growing number of patients even as donations to keep the free clinics up and running continue to dwindle.

Many are coming to the free clinics not only for basic health care, but also for serious ailments normally treated by specialists. The increased patient load is being blamed on a poor economy, the growing number of unemployed and a lack of basic health insurance coverage for many families across the Mountain State.

Statewide, more new faces are coming to the free clinics for help. Linda West, executive director of the West Virginia Association of Free Clinics, told the Associated Press that the number of patients being seen has increased by 5,000 people this year.

Locally, Mercer Health Right also is reporting a large jump in the number of people seeking medical treatment, according to agency director Debbie Enigk.

According to Enigk, the volunteers at Mercer Health Right have seen a steady increase in patients over the past two to three years. Many are people working at different jobs where they no longer have health insurance, while others are working on a part-time basis without health insurance.

Still others have lost both their jobs and homes, and are now living with family or friends.

Many of the new patients at Mercer Health Right are requesting treatment for serious health issues. For example, some with serious heart-related issues now can’t afford to see a cardiologist because they don’t have health care coverage. In other instances, Mercer Health Right has seen patients with seizure disorders who have not seen a neurologist in years because they don’t have health coverage.

Mercer Health Right is now seeing between 500 to 600 people a month. Some serious cases are referred to major medical centers. Virginia patients are referred to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and West Virginia patients are referred to specialty clinics with West Virginia University.

Enigk said Mercer Health Right is in need of more donations and volunteers to help with the growing patient load.

With state funding for free clinics such as Mercer Health Right becoming more scarce, it will take additional support from the community to keep these vital agencies up and running. The volunteers of Mercer Health Right who labor to provide this free clinic to needy families across our region are to be commended for their efforts.

In tough economic times, folks who are struggling to make ends meet need all the help they can get — including free medical care.