Thu, Nov 26 2009
|
|
Published August 03, 2008 11:27 pm - 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. Clinic struggles to keep up with demand 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.” 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Local News section
Hundreds served at churches, shelters in Joplin area Budget cuts, enrollment declines take toll at some Kansas schools PSU planning forums to discuss latest round of Kansas budget cuts |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
Locals react with dismay to new breast cancer screening guidelines w/ new cancer screening recommendations and American Cancer Society response
 |
 |
: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
 |
|
|
Published by Newspaper Holding, Inc. 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
