By John Hendler
•
10 Jun, 2022
Last year, Marshall’s Fountain Clinic we saw about 1,000 unduplicated patients for a total of 2,800 visits. Compared to about a decade ago, the number of patients have dropped but that is not necessarily a bad thing, said Fountain Clinic Executive Director Mary Jo Byrne. “Actually, things are better due to the Affordable Health Care Act,” said Byrne, who has been executive director since December 2007. “The ACA expanded Medicaid which covered millions more people if you live in an expansion state which Michigan is. It also established the insurance marketplace for those that make too much money for Medicaid. “Even though the premiums are less, there are still folks that fall through the cracks. To give you a perspective our numbers dropped by one-third after 2014. We also help our patients to qualify for the ACA.” The Fountain Clinic opened its doors on May 6,1992 and the clinic recently marked its 30th anniversary. The clinic was the idea of Dr. James Maher, and Byrne remembers how in early 1992, Maher approached her and the core group of individuals who would become part of the clinic's genesis. "We were all at Oaklawn Hospital at the time,” said Byrne, explaining that the “we" included nurses Patty Kellogg and Lee Sherman, along with Dr. Maher's wife Marcia Maher and Kathleen Lambrix, whose husband David was also a physician with Oaklawn. “I was in social work and Dr. Maher came to all of us and said he had this idea for a free clinic for those who are low income and uninsured,” said Byrne. “He wanted to run the idea by us and see what we thought.” Byrne said Maher was looking to pattern the idea of a Marshall clinic after the Nursing Clinic in Battle Creek. "So, we all got together that January and February in his waiting room because we didn't have anywhere else to meet and he presented his experiences with patients,” she said. Maher wrote letters to local doctors asking them if they would participate if there was such a clinic in Marshall. The group would meet every couple of weeks and the Nursing Clinic also sent a representative. Joe Carver, then head of the Calhoun County Health Department, also started attending those meetings and offering his support. "Joe also felt there was a strong need for such a clinic,” said Byrne. "He was renting the house where the hospital parking ramp is now. It was called the old Tanner House and Joe was renting that as a Health Department office. He said he would give us space there to see patients.” Byrne said that the thought was that in 1992, with Bill Clinton running for office with an idea for a national health program on his agenda, that a free clinic for those without insurance would be a “short-lived endeavor,” and now, 30 years later, the need for the Fountain Clinic is as important as ever. Byrne says the concept at the Fountain Clinic remains the same as it was from day one. Doctors are asked to volunteer a couple of hours each month in a clinic setting to see low income/ uninsured patients. "The difference back then was that we had no idea that the need was going to be as great as it was,” said Byrne. "So, we ended up hiring a nurse practitioner to see patients three days a week as well as three part time nurses as the demand grew.” Byrne says the group initially believed this was an operation they could pull off with all volunteers. "Well, it didn't take us long to figure out that wasn't going to work, and we hired Marcy Stead to help run the clinic and assist the doctors,” said Byrne. That first year, 449 patients came through the doors of the new Fountain Clinic. Five years later, that number had doubled, and in 2000, more than 2.200 patients were seen. And as the years went by the numbers continued to grow. "The big spike in patients being seen came following the recession in 2008 and that really changed many things for a lot of people,” said Byrne. "They lost the jobs with the benefits.” Between 2009 and 2013, the clinic averaged more than 5,200 patient visits a year. As Byrne stated, a dip occurred once the Affordable Care Act took hold along Medicaid expansion with the clinic seeing approximately 3,500 patients a year between 2014-16. Today, the clinic is available to more in the community. “We’re seeing patients, both medical and dental,” said Byrne. “Dental has become a very large program because of so many people being enrolled in the Medicaid expansion program, but dental is big. We’ve also been administering COVID vaccines here and we still have our monthly blood pressure checks (first Friday of the month, 9-11 a.m.) open to the community.” Byrne said overall, the clinic has not changed much over the years. “But we are going to raise the income level to come in here to up to 300% (instead of 250% - for a single person, an annual income just over $38,000) of the poverty level,” she said. “That will allow us to start taking care of more people, especially the working folks who just can’t afford healthcare. This is a significant jump. That sounds like a lot but given inflation and people working at minimum wage or close to it, a lot of people are going to need help.” The clinic’s largest fundraiser of the year had always been the Night at The Louvre event held at Tom Franke’s Oak Hill estate. This year’s event has been renamed Picnic at The Louvre and will again take place at Oak Hill on Friday, June 17 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. To RSVP, call the clinic at 269-789-0410. Franke passed away in March, but the Franke hold the event at Oak Hill this year. Byrne said this year’s event will have more of a picnic feel to it with checkered tablecloths, box lunches provided by Schuler’s and a silent auction. A live auction will no longer be held. “I’m hoping people will come out and have a good time,” said Byrne. “The event is outdoors, and we are very conscious about safety regarding COVID. Last year we had about 200 people and we are expecting that number for this year. We have 65 items so far in the silent auction.” The highest value once again this year is the trip to England for seven days at one of two Abacus Hotels, coming in at a value $3,000 with a minimum bid of $2,000. To see the list of auction items, go to fountainclinic.org. The Louvre event usually raises about $45,000 for the clinic. “This clinic has touched just about everybody in this community in some way – as a patient, volunteer or donor,” said Byrne. “This is a true community organization.” Byrne remembers that there were some in the community that did not give the fledgling clinic much of a chance three decades ago. "I remember one physician saying, 'Mary Jo, that place will never survive. If it lasts two to five years I'd be very surprised,’” said Byrne. “I didn't have any doubt that it would survive. Maybe it was because Joe Carver was so supportive. He made it clear that he would stick with us. He firmly believed it was necessary that there be somewhere for people to go that just did not have any insurance or not have the ability to pay on a sliding fee. Byrne said that the Fountain Clinic's success in helping patients is a testament to the citizens of the area who have offered their support even during difficult times for themselves and others. "I really think that's why the community has been so generous, she said. "Particularly during the rough times of the recession everybody knew somebody who needed the Fountain Clinic. I think our reputation for treating people with respect and dignity has been very good and that gets out in the community. That’s something we've been very proud of.” And Fountain Clinic staff members share Byrne’s sentiment. Maria Miller, the clinic's dental hygienist stated, "Many of our patients have been without dental care due to not having access to care. I enjoy educating them about oral health and helping them to restore their smiles and eat without pain. We have wonderful dentists that participate. It is so rewarding when a patient comes back to show their restored smiles. This program is a blessing to our patients, and they are very appreciative.” Maureen Marshall said the clinic allows her to do what she loves: help people. “I hear many times when I answer the phone people state it is nice to be able to actually talk to someone,” said Marshall. “They usually are in need of something and are frustrated with the process of finding help. The appreciation I hear in their voice when I am able to help them is so uplifting. The clinic fulfills so many needs in our community.” Registered Nurse Kim Gloar said it is an “absolute blessing to be a part of the incredible team we have at the Fountain Clinic” “We all work toward the same goal every day, and that is to provide exceptional medical care for those who otherwise would go or have gone without healthcare due to lack of insurance coverage or financial restraints,” said Gloar. “Every day is rewarding knowing we are making a difference in the lives of others. The support we receive from our community is what makes it possible for us to do what we do every day, and for that we are grateful.” Linda Dailey has lived in Marshall for 24 years and had heard about the clinic but did not know exactly what they did. “It wasn't until eight months ago, when I started working here that I started learning everything about the Fountain Clinic and all that we can offer,” said Dailey. “I thought the Fountain Clinic was a medical clinic for the people of Marshall, I was wrong; it's so much more – a free clinic that provides both dental and medical services to all those who qualify in all of Calhoun County and what makes it possible for us to provide these services are grants and donations received from a compassionate, caring community. “We are a non-profit organization, but I feel we are also a life-changing and life-saving organization. I am truly proud to be able to say I work at the Fountain Clinic and that every day my job allows me to help others with what I believe are life-changing and life-saving services. I feel good about working at the Fountain Clinic and what I can do to help others. We have all heard the words ‘helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person.’ I get to feel those words. “For 30 years this clinic has been helping thousands of Calhoun County residents and this has been possible with the help of our community. I feel we can continue to help more residents of our county for another 30 years and more…Please take some time and learn more about the Fountain Clinic and how you can help others and know and feel the difference you make in others’ lives. Remember, it's good to be blessed, but it's better to be a blessing.”