A Heart for Helping: Heart and Soul Free Clinic Services Uninsured and Underinsured Locals

A HEART FOR HELPING

HEART AND SOUL FREE CLINIC SERVICES UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED LOCALS

Writer / Renee Larr Photographer / Jason Graves

Heart and Soul Free Clinic in Westfield provides high-quality health care to uninsured or underinsured residents, regardless of their social, cultural or economic status. The clinic was founded in 2009.

In 2020 the clinic expanded its services by offering both women’s health services and mental health services.

“Both of those areas were things we felt individuals who are uninsured and frequently low income didn’t have access to,” says Lisa Kreag, executive director. “Often patients end up having to pay out of pocket for mental health services. It can range from $50 to $150 per session, and if you don’t have disposable income that can be very hard for a family to manage.”

The clinic offers services in the evenings and on weekends.

“All our services are provided by volunteers,” Kreag says. “We’re not open for the same hours as a regular doctor’s office. We have to be open when our volunteers are able to provide services.”

Heart and Soul provides a medical and dental clinic on specific days each month.

“We also have a mobile medical unit that goes to different locations for scheduled medical appointments,” Kreag says. “It’s a converted RV with an exam room in the back. We take it to the Delaware Township Trustee parking lot in Fishers. Also, we take it to Carmel United Methodist Church once a month when Gleaners Food Bank is there. The concept of it is a one-stop shop for people, so they don’t have to travel all over the place.”

The mobile unit is meant to help individuals with transportation issues.

“We try to make all our services as accessible to as many people as we can,” Kreag says.

Mental illness and anxiety have increased in 2020, due in large part to the pandemic.

“We provide six sessions to individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, grief and relationship issues,” Kreag says. “Those sessions are provided by volunteer licensed mental health professionals. We wanted to make sure we were treating the person when we see the need, almost like integrative health services.” “Our budget is 100% through grants, fundraisers and donors,” Kreag adds. “Fundraising opportunities are extremely important to us. That is the only way we’re able to continue providing these services.”

Another important component is volunteer assistance.

“We’re always looking for volunteers in the medical field,” Kreag says. “Doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, dentists and dental assistants are always needed. If they speak Spanish, that’s always a plus. We always have a Spanish interpreter on hand.”

One thing Heart and Soul doesn’t have a shortage of is patients.

“We’ve continued to see our number of patients grow and grow each year,” Kreag says. “We always try to partner with other nonprofits in the area so people are able to find us if they need us.”

Heart and Soul Free Clinic is located at 17338 Westfield Park Road, Suite 1 in Westfield. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 317-804-5782 or visit heartandsoulclinic.evrconnect.com.