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Midlothian free clinic relocating to downtown church
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
The closing of Bethlehem Lutheran Church impacted the small congregation and Midlothian Free Health Clinic Inc.
The clinic, housed at the church, began as a community outreach project led by the late Miriam Whetsome and former Pastor Robert Johnson of Bethlehem Lutheran and Carol Beard of Christ Lutheran Church in Struthers. It opened in March 2008.
The clinic’s future was uncertain for a time, said Maureen Cronin, executive director of the clinic, and Jim Benedict, president of the board. The two said other locations were explored and negotiations have yielded success. The health clinic will relocate to First Presbyterian Church, 201 Wick Ave. It is expected to reopen in February.
“The church was very welcoming to us,” Benedict said. “The clinic will be a nice presence in the First Presbyterian location,” Cronin added.
Cronin and Benedict cited two key factors that made First Presbyterian “most attractive.”
“The space meets our needs and its proximity to YSU,” Cronin said.
Benedict said the clinic has a collaborative project with Youngstown State University’s Bitonte College of Health and Human Services. YSU students studying physical therapy, nursing, social work, exercise science, to name a few areas, gain practical experience at the clinic. “We may even be able to expand the students’ work because we’ll be so close,” Benedict said.
The clinic will continue to fulfill its mission “to offer free, quality, primary health care to the uninsured living in the Greater Youngstown area.”
The health clinic is a 501(c) nonprofit corporation administered by a part-time director, volunteer board and volunteer doctors, nurses and administrative support staff. It will retain the Midlothian name because that’s its identity.
Cronin, who has served as executive director for two years, said funding comes from three sources — private donations, Community Development Block Grant and Ohio Department of Health Free Clinic Association. The annual budget is about $50,000. She added the clinic is among recipients of fundraisers including a golf outing sponsored by Zion Lutheran Church and the Peace Race through the Diabetes Partnership of the Mahoning Valley.
The staff is led by Dr. Thomas E. Albani Jr., medical director. Cronin said Albani, along with other physicians he recruits, donate their services. Of the doctors, only one is retired; others are in practice.
As for the nurses who volunteer, about half are retired and the others still work. Other volunteers fill administrative roles.
“The clinic offers primary- care medical treatment to people. ... We’re their family doctor,” Cronin said.
She and Benedict pointed out the health clinic has developed relationships with other providers in the Valley.
It partners with St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital’s dental and prescription assistance program, Diabetes Partnership of the Mahoning Valley, the HIV/AIDS Ministry of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown and Access Mahoning Valley, a health care collaborative that helps people obtain affordable health care.
The clinic also has 15 specialty providers for such areas as heart, orthopedics and women’s health.
Cronin said since it opened about six years ago, the clinic has seen some 900 patients.
The clinic is open the second and fourth Thursdays of the month; from 25 to 40 patients are seen each night. Cronin said patients are between 18 and 64 years old, uninsured and have an annual income of less than 200 percent of U.S. Health and Human Services poverty guidelines. “We serve the working poor,” Cronin said.
Cronin said health problems most often seen at the clinic are obesity, blood pressure issues and diabetes.
Through the Diabetes Partnership and YSU nurse educator project, patients’ blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass are tracked.
Healthy cooking demonstrations and exercise options also are presented.