By Wally Kennedy

wkennedy@joplinglobe.com

The downturn in the economy is taking a toll on the working uninsured, and it’s being felt at the Community Clinic of Joplin, 701 S. Joplin Ave.

Because of growing numbers of new patients each month, the clinic says it is in desperate need of volunteer doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses. It also needs clerical people who can help the clinic manage the intake of new patients.

Increasing food and gas prices, and the shortage of jobs with medical benefits is putting more and more people in a bind.

Patricia Moffet, of Fairview, is one of them.

“I was working for Scholastic in Neosho, and I found out that I was diabetic,” she said. “I ended up losing my job and losing my insurance, so I started coming here (to the clinic). I have no income. I get no help from welfare. My kids have been taking care of me for the past three years, and it has cost them everything they have worked hard for in order to take care of me.”

She said there are no jobs in Fairview, a Newton County community of about 200 people.

“So, you have to drive at least to Neosho for work, and when you have to drive back and forth with the gas prices the way they are, you can’t afford to live,” Moffet said.

Reno Richardson, of Joplin, said she is facing a similar situation.

“My son has just started his company, about a year ago, and he can’t afford to give us any health insurance,” Richardson said. “I work for him, but just one of the medications I take is almost $150 for 30 pills.

“Not having insurance has been a big impact on me. The Community Clinic is a good alternative.”

Becky Thomason, a registered nurse who serves as the clinic’s operations manager, said the clinic is facing a difficult period.

“We are continuing to provide services for the uninsured here in Joplin, but that population has significantly grown for us since January,” she said. “We are averaging 100 new patients every month.

“We see adult patients in our clinics for about 14 hours a week. A hundred new patients a month, well, that’s a lot of extra patients.”