In a recent Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) compiled by the local hospitals in Hamilton County, it was discovered that 25 percent of those living below the poverty line could not access health care due to a lack of transportation. It was further discovered that 90 percent of those uninsured or underinsured in Hamilton County had never visited a free health clinic. According to the Heart and Soul Free Clinic, when asked why, the number one reason given was transportation.
This mobile medical unit means that patients without transportation will no longer have to go without needed care. (Photo provided)
The Westfield-based clinic, which serves patients with non-emergency medical and dental needs, has begun the process to purchase a mobile medical unit. Heart and Soul staff believes that health care should not be denied to anyone due to a lack of transportation; therefore, with this mobile unit, patients will no longer have to come to the organization’s clinic, located at 202 Penn St., Westfield, to receive care.
Heart and Soul has seen explosive growth in the last two years. In 2017 alone, the organization had over 700 patient visits. This is well over double the amount of visits in 2016. Heart and Soul Clinic staff indicated while this growth is incredible, there is still a great need, a need that will never be meet without the launch of a mobile medical unit. With the addition of this mobile unit, Heart and Soul will be able to travel across the county to partnering organizations and local events to provide much needed care to the uninsured and underinsured in Hamilton County and the surrounding areas.
With the purchase of this unit, Heart and Soul will be making history by being the first free clinic in Hamilton County to provide these services to our community. The organization is asking the Hamilton County community to partner financially with them to make this dream of a mobile unit become a reality? To donate visit Heart and Soul’s website or contact the clinic at 317-804-5782.
For a limited time, the organization will be able to offer an Indiana tax credit incentive to donors of this campaign on a first-come, first-serve basis. These tax credits cover 50 percent of your donation to the clinic for this mobile unit. For example, if you make a donation of $1,000, the Heart and Soul Clinic can provide you with a $500 tax credit for your Indiana tax liability.
You can receive one of these Indiana tax credits by:
- Making a donation through the organization’s website. Please place “Mobile Unit” in the online memo line; or
- Sending a check with “Mobile Unit” in the memo line to: Heart and Soul Free Clinic, P.O. Box 478, Westfield, IN 46074
Reminder, these tax credits are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The staff will contact you if you have been awarded a tax credit through Heart and Soul.