SIU Center For Family Medicine celebrates opening with a ribbon cutting and open house

[September 05, 2017] LINCOLN - On Wednesday, August 30 the SIU Center for Family Medicine held a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house at the Logan County Public Health Department.

The SIU Center for Family Medicine is a collaboration between the Southern Illinois School of Medicine, the ALMH Foundation, and the Logan County Department of Public Health. It provides dental and medical services for many who may not otherwise have access to care.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was hosted by Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce with Director Cathy Wilhite presiding and chamber ambassadors present.

Wilhite welcomed everyone and thanked the many involved in getting the clinic going. She said it is a "wonderful addition to the community."

ALMH Administrator Dolan Dalpoas thanked the ALMH Foundation Board for their "vision, ongoing leadership, courage to act, unwavering commitment to our mission." Dalpoas said many generous donors who have provided ongoing support have positioned the foundation to make "transformational changes" in the community and be a force for good.

Dalpoas said he is thrilled to work with the Logan County Department of Public Health and the SIU Center for Family Medicine and congratulated both for the hard work and effort it took to get to today. He said it will improve access to care.

Logan County Department of Public Health Administrator Don Cavi thanked everyone for attending and said he is happy to work with two wonderful organizations. Cavi also thanked the health department staff and the dental staff for all their help and cooperation and recognized the Board of Health. Cavi said when he was approached two years ago about taking on the clinic, the Board of Health supported it from day one.

Cavi said the state's budget impasses and deficits have made him nervous about how it would affect care. He thanked the Logan County Board for providing a loan and for supporting and backing the health department.

Cavi also thanked the ALMH Foundation for the grant which enabled the health department to open the clinics.

Cavi said Helen Keller's quote, "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much" seems fitting to describe the fact that all the changes the clinic would not have been possible without the group effort.

Cavi said the many services under one roof will be a "tremendous asset to the community."

Iris Wesley, Executive Director of the SIU Federally Qualified Health Center Program, thanked the board of health members and health department staff for putting up with all the construction and the moving. Wesley said Lincoln is the first to have both dental and medical clinics.

Wesley thanked Dr. Janet Albers and Dr. Michal Dynda, who provide the medical care. Wesley said they are working to help patients and the community.

Dr. Dynda said he finds it rewarding to be able to provide for patients who really do not have care.

Dr. Albers said she thankful to get to see patients appreciate all the staff. She said since SIU School of Medicine does a lot of teaching, they are eventually hoping to get students and residents and build the workforce.

Dr. Sharon Molitoris, who provides care in the dental clinic, said she is grateful for the opportunity to work with the clinic. Dental care used to be offered on a van and then at the department, and SIU is helping the dental clinic to expand more. Dr. Molitoris said their waiting lists for appointments have previously been months, but they are hoping to make the wait shorter now that the clinic has expanded the care.

Dr. Molitoris said it is the only one in the county that accepts Medicaid and many people served by the clinic would not get dental treatment otherwise due to not having insurance.

Some of the other people involved with the clinic are Project Manager Lori Jackson, Nurse Administrator Melinda Hoagland, and board members Zevernette Holloway, Janet Gambaugh and Pete Cadwell.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, refreshments were provided and tours of the clinics were offered.

The clinics are in the back part of the building. Lori Jackson said some of the department's offices became open space and more exam rooms were added.

The medical clinic area has four exam rooms with computers and exam tables. Right across from the exam rooms is an office for the providers and at the end of the halls is a utility area.

The dental clinic has four exam rooms with radiology. Just one of the exam rooms is brand new as the others had been previously used for dental services provided by the health department.

In addition to the dentist, two dental assistants are able to see patients and provide some of the care. Jackson said they are hoping to have a second dentist at some point.

The medical and dental clinics began seeing patients in April. Jackson said, initially, there were about four patients seen daily, but now there are about sixteen to eighteen patients being seen daily. She said they prefer having appointments set up, but occasionally take walk-ins if time is available.

Jackson said the clinics are intertwined with the health department. The clinic does physicals on many school children and they are then sent down the hall to the health department for vaccinations.

Jackson said it is about helping people and not about the money.

The clinics are a welcome addition to the community as they provide care to many who have not previously had a family doctor.

[Angela Reiners]