Historical October 1981 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The People’s Clinic, a nine-year resident of Skinker-DeBaliviere, is moving to larger quarters in October.
A vacant building at 5701-3 Delmar was purchased last spring and extensive renovations have been underway this summer under the supervision of architect Richard Franklin.
The new facility will contain six examining rooms, a treatment room, and several counseling and consulting rooms.
One of the unusual features is the placement of skylights over each waiting area to bring in daylight and create a more cheerful atmosphere.
There is a separate children’s room off the main reception area and a multipurpose room for meetings. Of course areas are provided for medical records and administrative offices.
The People’s Clinic has evolved over the last nine years from a “free-clinic” staffed totally by volunteers to a neighborhood health center financed by a federal grant, private gifts, local fundraising, and patient fees.
The services have also grown.
No longer content with providing episodic care, the Clinic now offers comprehensive health care for the whole family.
A full range of medical and social services are available either at People’s Clinic or through linkages (formal referral arrangements) with other institutions.
In order to receive their grant the following essential services must be provided:
- Physician Services—this includes diagnostic, treatment, consultation, referral services, and hospital coverage.
- Emergency Medical Services
- Radiological and Laboratory
- Preventive Services — this includes preand post-natal care, well child care, immunization program, family planning and infertility services, and preventive dental care for children.
- Patient Transportation
- Arrangements for in-patient care with a nearby hospital — the People’s Clinic uses St. Luke’s Hospital for their regular patients and Deaconess Hospital for obstetric patients. People’s Clinic also provides information and formal referral arrangements for many supplemental services in order to establish a complete health systems for their patients. Among these are: home health services; extended care facilities; other dental care; mental health services; rehabilitative services, including physical therapy; public health, including nutrition education and social services; treatment for alcoholism and other drug abuse dependence; vision care; and health education.
The Clinic’s federal money comes from a Health and Human Services (HHS) grant initiated in 1965 by OEO (Office of Economic Opportunity) in response to the growing awareness of inadequate medical attention to the poor and its economic and social consequences.
The policies and procedures which govern neighborhood health centers are established by national and regional offices and the community Health Council at People’s Clinic.
To ensure community support the governing board is made up largely of neighborhood residents and Clinic users.
In December 1979, the Clinic successfully received Federal support under the Urban Health initiative grant.
The purpose of these grants is to encourage integrated health care in medically underserved urban areas, areas with a shortage of personal health services.
In our area we have only one physician for a population of 20,500.
The Clinic’s service area includes Skinker-DeBaliviere, the University City Loop, and a large area north of Delmar and the Pantheon Redevelopment area.
The medical staff at People’s Clinic consists of Dr. Susan Smith, an internist who is also Medical Director; Dr. Phillip Vigneri, a general practitioner; Dr. Arthur Casey, a part-time obstetrician/gynecologist; a pediatric nurse practitioner; two public health nurses; and one licensed practical nurse.
With all the changes in personnel, programs and facilities one thing has not been altered: the philosophy that health care is a human right, not a profit-making venture.
The People’s Clinic still seeks to provide personalized, patient-oriented health care. Appointments are scheduled to avoid the long waits common in other clinics and doctors’ offices. Hours include an evening Ob/Gyn clinic convenient for working women and a Saturday clinic twice a month for the ease of families with children in school.
When construction is completed at the new building and the moving is accomplished in the middle of this month, it is hoped that all neighborhood residents will come for a visit and make an appointment to start receiving People’s Clinic special brand of comprehensive health care.
Originally published in The Paper, October 1981.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1981_10.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
