Cape Coral clinic expands to offer free health care for patients

For families who can’t afford a doctor’s visit, relief is on the way thanks to a major expansion that means more free care, more medications, and hope.So many people have lost their health insurance that Samaritan Health and Wellness has outgrown its location along Cape Coral Parkway and is relocating to a new site off Del Prado Boulevard to accommodate the growing number of people who have lost their health insurance.Pastor Don Hendricks of North Fort Myers is one of the more than 14,000 patients using the Samaritan Health Clinic yearly because they can’t afford health insurance.”I am a pastoral role at my church, and we do not have health care,” Hendricks said. “It’s blown out of proportion to where no one can afford it.”Sabrina Mirra, who is weeks away from getting her RN degree, sees the patient load growing.”It’s expensive: premiums and deductibles,” Mirra said. “There’s people that live out of state, and every six months they come to get their care with us.”The clinic is not big enough to handle its growing patient load.”With the changes in insurance and people not being able to afford monthly premiums, we’re seeing an influx of uninsured people,” said nurse practitioner Dr. Sue Hook.A major state grant is allowing many patients to get free health care.”We’re able to offer free diabetes screening, hypertension screening, cancer screening,” Hook said.Hook, who founded the clinic, said the grant also allows for a free appointment for anyone.”They’re entitled to a new patient visit at no cost to them, plus the free lab work,” Hook said.Patients like Don Hendricks say it’s more than just a clinic — it’s hope.”She is the string to a need that is there. Of course it’s going to grow,” Hendricks said.Samaritan purchased a corner building for $850,000. They say if everyone watching this donated just $1, they could have it paid for. They hope to be in the new location within the next two weeks.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

For families who can’t afford a doctor’s visit, relief is on the way thanks to a major expansion that means more free care, more medications, and hope.

So many people have lost their health insurance that Samaritan Health and Wellness has outgrown its location along Cape Coral Parkway and is relocating to a new site off Del Prado Boulevard to accommodate the growing number of people who have lost their health insurance.

Pastor Don Hendricks of North Fort Myers is one of the more than 14,000 patients using the Samaritan Health Clinic yearly because they can’t afford health insurance.

“I am a pastoral role at my church, and we do not have health care,” Hendricks said. “It’s blown out of proportion to where no one can afford it.”

Sabrina Mirra, who is weeks away from getting her RN degree, sees the patient load growing.

“It’s expensive: premiums and deductibles,” Mirra said. “There’s people that live out of state, and every six months they come to get their care with us.”

The clinic is not big enough to handle its growing patient load.

“With the changes in insurance and people not being able to afford monthly premiums, we’re seeing an influx of uninsured people,” said nurse practitioner Dr. Sue Hook.

A major state grant is allowing many patients to get free health care.

“We’re able to offer free diabetes screening, hypertension screening, cancer screening,” Hook said.

Hook, who founded the clinic, said the grant also allows for a free appointment for anyone.

“They’re entitled to a new patient visit at no cost to them, plus the free lab work,” Hook said.

Patients like Don Hendricks say it’s more than just a clinic — it’s hope.

“She is the string to a need that is there. Of course it’s going to grow,” Hendricks said.

Samaritan purchased a corner building for $850,000. They say if everyone watching this donated just $1, they could have it paid for. They hope to be in the new location within the next two weeks.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.