Volunteers preparing new site in Cedar Rapids free medical clinic

Kim Pittman deeply appreciates free chiropractic treatments for her back, which she injured in a motorcycle accident three years ago.

While she doesn't consider herself religious, a side dose of prayer doesn't hurt, the 49-year-old Marion woman said after her appointment last week at His Hands Free Medical Clinic, 1043 Third Ave. SE.

“It's wonderful,” said Pittman, who has been unable to work because of her injury and is uninsured. “I'm glad we've got something like this around here.”

The clinic has been at the bus- and pedestrian-friendly site since 2002, but its medical, chiropractic and forthcoming dental treatments will move this summer.

A building is being readied just around the corner at 400 12th St. SE, with a targeted opening date of late June or July.

Executive Director Sharon Patten said the clinic rented its current building, whose owner sold it to St. Luke's Hospital as part of the hospital's property acquisition for the Physicians' Clinic of Iowa medical mall.

The free clinic has operated since 1992 and went on its own after a mutual split that led to separate sites for the faith-based His Hands and the Community Health Free Clinic, which opened its own building in 2004 at 947 14th Ave. SE. That clinic is opening a new site for its prescription assistance program.

St. Luke's had given the program free space in its building at 860 Second Ave. SE, a site that also will be used for the medical mall. Darlene Schmidt, CEO of the Community Health Free Clinic, said its new site is opening today, at 715 10th Ave. SE for the prescription program.

Patten said each clinic has its own niche.

Dr. James Bell, clinic founder and medical director, called His Hands a medical ministry.

“The single purpose is life change from a spiritual perspective and service through the medical ministry that we do,” Bell said.

To that end, a prayer support team member talks with patients, and, when appropriate, offers prayers, said Board President Michael Pearson.

“They don't have to (pray) but most people do,” he said. Patients also are offered a free Bible.

Last year, the clinic had 1,986 patient visits, of which 870 were chiropractic.

Patten said 111 people volunteered at the clinic, including 60 licensed medical or chiropractic volunteers.

Funding is primarily through 20 or so churches and private donations, with a 2011 budget of $91,000.

Patten and Clinic Director Cyndi Ziegler are the only paid staff.

No paperwork is required for patients, who are often employed, but uninsured, or have high co-payments, Ziegler said.

Patten said the new site, at the former House of Prayer soup kitchen, was purchased for $100,000 through foundation funds and savings.

Although supporters held out hope for a modern facility, the purchase left little for renovations.

In stepped the Building Pros of Eastern Iowa who have more than met those dreams, Patten and Ziegler said.

About 70 of the nearly 18,000-member group of union members, contractors and other professionals has provided hundreds of hours of volunteer labor.

Volunteers are leveling floors, fixing electrical wiring, putting up new walls and more.

“We identified this project as our number one priority,” said Ray Dochterman, Building Pros member and Local 125 Plumbers and Pipefitters business manager. “We know how important health care is. The need isn't going away.”

The new site will be 3,984 square-feet, almost three times bigger than the current clinic.

A larger waiting room; four exam rooms - the same as the current building, but larger for better privacy; wheelchair-accessible bathrooms; office space; a medication sample room, prayer room and break room for volunteers are in formative stages at the new site.

Patten hopes the last portion of the building will open by the end of the year as a kitchen to use for cooking demonstrations to teach patients how to prepare healthy meals.

They also hope to open a free dental clinic in one of the rooms.

"It's kind of as God wills,” Patten said of the opening date for the dental program.

The clinic is open limited hours, by appointment only.

Patten and Ziegler don't expect the hours to expand with the move.

“If we can get more providers - doctors, nurse practitioners and physicians assistants - we can expand the hours,” said Ziegler, who is a nurse. “That's the bottleneck right now.”