medical clinic

BY LEANNE SMITH
The Livingston Community News
Donna Briggs gets sinus infections every year, and the one she had earlier this winter was typical with its congestion, sniffling and discomfort.
The difference this time was that she didn't have to just suffer through it.
Briggs, a hairdresser from Whitmore Lake, has no medical insurance, but that doesn't matter to the free nondenominational, faith-based Mission Medical Clinic. She's the kind of patient the volunteer health professionals there want to help.
"This is wonderful," Briggs said during her January visit. "Hopefully, I'll get better faster."

LEANNE SMITH, THE LIVINGSTON COMMUNITY NEWSNurse practitioner Laura Goldman, right, examines Donna Briggs, of Whitmore Lake, at the free Mission Medical Clinic. The clinic, started by Goldman and her husband Mitchell, an emergency room doctor, sees patients free on Saturdays at the Putnam Township Fire Hall, 1066 E. M-36, Pinckney.

Mission Medical Clinic has been packed since it opened Dec. 1 in the lower-level training room of the Putnam Township Fire Hall on M-36 in Pinckney. It serves uninsured patients age 18-64 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday. Appointments are recommended.
The clinic was founded by Mitchell and Laura Goldman, of Hamburg Township. He's an emergency room physician, and she's a family nurse practitioner and former member of the University of Michigan Survival Flight team. They said a medical mission trip to India a year ago opened their eyes to how many people here are suffering because they have no medical insurance.
"There are an estimated 11,000 uninsured adults in Livingston County alone," Mitchell Goldman said. "Unfortunately, the need is growing as people get laid off or have their medical benefits cut. These are rough times."
The popularity of the clinic was expected, but still startling, the Goldmans said.
"A lot of people have the perception that uninsured people are on the rough edge of society," Mitchell Goldman said. "That's not true. They are your friends and neighbors."
Many using the clinic work part-time jobs that don't offer benefits, the volunteers said.
"They really are the working poor," said Karen Adams, of Hamburg Township, a retired nurse and clinic volunteer. "One person was working three part-time jobs and none of them provided health insurance."
The clinic treats chronic health issues, including high blood pressure, asthma and diabetes, as well as providing urgent care for colds, flu, sore throats and minor burns, cuts and sprains.

LEANNE SMITH, THE LIVINGSTON COMMUNITY NEWSCasey Workman, a paramedic at Oakwood Annapolis Hospital in Wayne County, prepares an examination area in the kitchen of the Putnam Township Fire Hall.

"It's a godsend," said Mary Clickner, of Cohoctah Township, who came to the clinic in January with bronchitis. "It would be nice if there were more places like this in the county, but I'm just thankful this one is here."
Practicing and retired medical professionals, as well as community members who do administrative tasks, volunteer at the clinic. All are covered by malpractice and general liability insurance, which costs the clinic about $22,000 a year and is the biggest drain on its donated funds, Mitchell Goldman said.
The Shalom Lutheran Church Mission Possible Group, The Mission Church, the Christian House of Prayer and businesses, including National City Bank, Lakeland Carpet, Pinckney Auto Wash, Busch's supermarket, Everything Battery and Pinckney's Rite Aid drug store, are helping, but more donations are needed, the Goldmans said.
More doctors, dentists and midlevel practitioners, such as physicians assistants and nurse practitioners, also are needed so the clinic can serve more patients, Laura Goldman said.
"We're taking care of as many people as we possibly can with who we have," she said. "The more support we get, the more we can offer patients and stay in business. I believe this clinic will go on. I don't see how we could stop now."
Free clinic
The Mission Medical Clinic is a free non-denominational faith-based health clinic for uninsured adults age 18-64. It's open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays in the lower-level training room of the Putnam Township Fire Hall, 1066 E. M-36, Pinckney. Appointments are recommended.