Community Care

I had the opportunity the other day to visit a friend’s community clinic. It is out in the middle of vast farmlands. What a model of culturally appropriate care and efficiency! People can come to the clinic for all kinds of ailments and injuries. They also come for pregnancy, birth, postpartum and well-woman care.

Each client is greeted warmly - and their entire family if they’ve come as a group. Vitals are taken, then they are ushered into a private suite to wait for further care. Children can play (and get a lollipop) while they wait for mom if a bit of privacy is warranted. Blood draws for lab testing and referrals for specialists are no problem.

Wouldn’t it be great if every community had such a place that was warm, welcoming, low-key and staffed by members of the community it served? My heart is encouraged to know that this model is still alive and thriving. It reminded me of that great Patch Adams movie with Robin Williams; the real Patch Adams just wanted a home where people/clients/friends were free to come and go as they pleased to help and heal one another. What an idea!