By CHRISTIE BLECK
February 3, 2011
From Ingham County Community News
MASON - In 2004, Dr. Barry Saltman and his wife, Suzanne, a registered nurse, set their sights on a weekly "ma and pa" free clinic for the community.
MASON - In 2004, Dr. Barry Saltman and his wife, Suzanne, a registered nurse, set their sights on a weekly "ma and pa" free clinic for the community.
Discovering there were far more needy people who needed access to health care than they realized, the Saltmans, with the help of a $20,000 contribution from the Ingham County Board of Commissioners, remodeled their building at 790 E. Columbia to help those people.
Six-and-a-half years and more than 2,500 patients later, the Mason Care Free Clinic continues to serve the community. The Saltmans' mission has expanded to include two Lansingclinics as well, bringing the total number of patients served to about 7,500.
"We went from this little heartwarming idea to something that captivated us ever since," Barry Saltman said.
Needy patients now have somewhere to go for medical attention.
Help Needed
Success can have its perils, however, and Saltman wants the community to know thatfinancial and volunteer help is needed to help the clinic thrive. Dividing his time between the clinics has left Saltman a busy man, with him putting in many hours at work.
And more projects are in the works. A specialty clinic for the underinsured and uninsured is expected to open in April. Starting in July, community education will be offered on such topics such as nutrition and managing high blood pressure.
To help get Mason Care Free Clinic to the position it now has in the community, of course, has been partly due to community help.
Major financial supporters include the Dart Foundation, Dart Bank, the Mason Rotary Club and the Kiwanis Club of Mason.
Pharmacist Steve Ware and Dr. Glen Linsley also have given their support to the clinic.
Unfortunately, financial help cannot come from everywhere. The Saltmans have met with City Administrator Marty Colburn, who noted the city cannot make direct donations to the clinic or waive taxes.
"They are struggling like so many other organizations," Colburn said. However, he, too, said he wanted the community to be aware of the clinics' challenges.
Success can have its perils, however, and Saltman wants the community to know thatfinancial and volunteer help is needed to help the clinic thrive. Dividing his time between the clinics has left Saltman a busy man, with him putting in many hours at work.
And more projects are in the works. A specialty clinic for the underinsured and uninsured is expected to open in April. Starting in July, community education will be offered on such topics such as nutrition and managing high blood pressure.
To help get Mason Care Free Clinic to the position it now has in the community, of course, has been partly due to community help.
Major financial supporters include the Dart Foundation, Dart Bank, the Mason Rotary Club and the Kiwanis Club of Mason.
Pharmacist Steve Ware and Dr. Glen Linsley also have given their support to the clinic.
Unfortunately, financial help cannot come from everywhere. The Saltmans have met with City Administrator Marty Colburn, who noted the city cannot make direct donations to the clinic or waive taxes.
"They are struggling like so many other organizations," Colburn said. However, he, too, said he wanted the community to be aware of the clinics' challenges.
Expansion Will Help
Saltman said this year's budget for all the clinics is $1.8 million, up from $1.2 million last year.
Expansion of services will help, Saltman said, and although the clinics aren't in imminent danger of closing, there's the possibility of not being able to take on added need.
Financial donations as well as volunteer help are welcomed.
Opening a dialogue, Saltman wrote in a prepared statement to the City Council, will help sustain a health-care safety net for residents in southern Ingham County.
Saltman said this year's budget for all the clinics is $1.8 million, up from $1.2 million last year.
Expansion of services will help, Saltman said, and although the clinics aren't in imminent danger of closing, there's the possibility of not being able to take on added need.
Financial donations as well as volunteer help are welcomed.
Opening a dialogue, Saltman wrote in a prepared statement to the City Council, will help sustain a health-care safety net for residents in southern Ingham County.
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