By Abby Walton
In 2012, Theresia Murray found out she was pregnant with her third child. While the news was something to celebrate, the headache of finding a health care provider was not.
“My husband had a job, but then decided to work on his own as an arborist. We bought private health insurance, but it didn’t cover pregnancies for 18 months,” Murray said.
The couple then went to their hospital to see if they could get a special rate by paying out of pocket for their expenses.
“Unfortunately, they don’t do that and said we needed to apply for Medicaid,” Murray said. To enroll in Medicaid, Murray had to go to the health department to get a blood test to confirm the pregnancy. “That’s when they told me about the Boone County Community Clinic,” she said.
Open since 1998, the clinic at 404 West Camp St., Lebanon is a place where uninsured or underinsured people can receive medical help and prevention services.
“We’re the only community health center in the state that’s not supported by a university or hospital,” said Mandi Dickey, the clinic’s office manager. Dr. Bambi McQuade-Jones, Georgia Steiman and a staff of other nurse practitioners make it their mission to provide quality care at affordable costs.
“We tell people to prepare for a fee of $50 and encourage them to bring in their W-2 and tax forms so we can try to give them a discount,” Dickey said. While the clinic treats the entire family, it places a special focus on women and children.
“Right now we have around 370 women involved in our H.E.R.S. for Her program,” she said.
The Health, Education, Resources and Services for Her program allows women six extended visits with a nurse practitioner. During those visits, women can get a Pap smear, breast exam or even counseling. The program costs $80, however the clinic offers scholarships to reduce that amount and makes it free for women who are pregnant. A membership to the YMCA is also included in the fee.
“Unfortunately, in today’s world, people sometimes have to choose between putting food on the table or getting medical care,” Dickey said.
With stories like the Murray’s becoming more common, Dickey said it was time Lebanon. With more exam rooms, programs and extended office hours, the clinic will be able to serve more people in the Lebanon and Zionsville communities. If you’d like more information on the Boone County Community Clinic, call 765-483-4469 or go to www.boonecountyclinic.org.