ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A local health clinic is preparing for an expected surge in patients as federal Medicaid and Medicare cuts loom in the coming weeks.
The South Wedge Neighborhood Center provides health care to the uninsured and underinsured in Rochester. Executive Director Jennifer Searle said the clinic was founded in 1993 to serve people who simply didn’t have access to essential health services.
“We provide health care to the uninsured and underinsured,” Searle said. The center offers primary care, specialty care and mental health services.
In a typical year, the clinic serves about 1,600 individuals with roughly 6,000 appointments. Searle said the clinic anticipates an influx of patients due to upcoming Medicaid and Medicare cuts and increased documentation requirements. She said those requirements will make it harder for people to maintain their benefits.
“When somebody needs health care, when somebody is having a mental health crisis, they need the services then,” Searle said. “We always have been here, we always will be here.”
The clinic is currently undergoing renovations to double its number of exam rooms. Searle said the expansion will allow the center to serve 3,500 to 5,000 people in the coming years. “What I find really exciting about this is that what we’re investing in is the patient spaces,” Searle said.
“We’re putting our money where we’re serving the patients.” The clinic received an ARPA grant through Monroe County and is seeking additional funding. Searle said the one-time investment will give the clinic the capacity to serve double the number of patients for the next 30 years.
The center relies heavily on private donations and volunteers. Searle said about 400 volunteers help the clinic each year, ranging from people who paint walls to medical professionals. “The story of the Neighborhood Center is one of health care for the community by the community,” Searle said.
The clinic serves zip codes with high rates of chronic health conditions and health disparities. Searle said there is a direct correlation between the zip codes the clinic serves and years of life lost due to health issues.
The center’s annual fundraiser, which Searle calls a “non-gala gala,” is coming up. This year’s theme is “legends.”
Searle emphasized that despite the clinic’s religious name, people do not need to be religious to receive services. The clinic was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph. “We want everyone to be welcme regardless of anything,” Searle said. “We try to be an affirming space for everyone that comes in the door.”
For more on the services the center offers you can visit its website here.
Donations are accepted here: Donate — St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center
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