fulfilling a need

Hope Clinic provides health care to those who would otherwise go without.

› By JoAnn Guidry

Good health is key to a good life. But for many, access to health care is problematic. Enter Hope Clinic.

“There is a very underserved population in our community when it comes to health care,” says Cindy Grow, a licensed nurse practitioner who specializes in chronic disease prevention and management. “Many are uninsured, from low income families or homeless. When they get sick, they go to the ER. But most su er from chronic health issues that could be better managed with regular health care visits. This is why Hope Clinic exists.”

Having been on many health care missions in and out of the country, Grow decided to be of service closer to home. Three years ago, she approached Interfaith Emergency Services and volunteered her health care services to their clients. From there, Hope Clinic was born.

“Hope Clinic is a registered free clinic with the Florida Department of Health,” says Grow. “Interfaith allows us to operate the clinic rent free in their building.”

Grow notes that “the people we see have chronic health issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and even mental health issues.”

“We evaluate them and provide them with necessary medications and also chronic disease health management skills,” she says.

Open one to three days a week, Hope Clinic sees 40 to 100 people with most returning for multiple visits.

“In addition to Interfaith helping with the more expensive meds, such as insulin, we can usually handle the other medication needs through the $4 or free meds at Walmart and Publix,” says Grow. “We also provide vitamins, eye glasses, water and many other basic necessities the rest of us take for granted. We even provide bus passes for those patients with no transportation to get to the clinic.”

Hope Clinic is supported through donations of time, equipment, supplies and money. In 2017, Hope Clinic was awarded a $10,000 grant from the City of Ocala. The clinic collaborates with volunteer health care professionals to provide its services. Currently, these include Dr. Kalpesh Solanki (cardiology), Dr. Patrick Acevedo

(oncology/ hematology), Dr. Ashwinn Rumalla (gastroenterology), Dr. Melvin Seek (nephrology), Dr. Don Bovell (acute & primary care) and Ashlee Seek (nurse practitioner).

“We are also fortunate to partner with FreeDOM Clinic and DOCS Imaging,” says Grow. “It truly takes a team e ort to provide those without access to health care a viable way to be healthy. The community of Ocala has continued to show great support in achieving this goal.”

Get involved › HOPE CLINIC › 108 N Pine Street, Ocala › (352) 877-9907 › hopeclinicocala.com