We Care Clinic – Front Row (L to R): Karl Steene, Nicki Maslin, Shelley Stuven, Eileen O’Donnell, Miranda Hawker, Dr. Dennis Saver
Back Row (L to R): Ann Marie Suriano (Hospital District), Kate Voss (Hospital District), Sarah Mondano, Jason Fykes (Barth Construction)
We Care Clinic Renovations Underway!
Vero Beach, FL – Renovations are underway for the new We Care Clinic, the first of its kind in Indian River County, at the Gifford Health Center, 4675 28th Ct., Vero Beach, FL. The clinic, which is expected to be open by early December 2015, is an extension of the We Care program that coordinates free physician services for uninsured indigent patients in Indian River County.
Currently more than 130 volunteer physicians and other medical professionals donate care to as many as 3,000 qualified Indian River County residents annually, at no charge to the patient. These medical services are valued at more than $1 million annually
“The opening of the We Care Clinic will be staffed by a full-time Primary Care Physician, and will significantly expand existing medical services offered by the We Care program,” said Dr. Dennis Saver, President of the We Care Foundation of Indian River. “The We Care Foundation Board of Directors anticipates that with the opening of the clinic, We Care volunteer physicians together with clinic staff will be able to provide necessary medical care to more qualified patients in need.”
The grand opening celebration of the We Care Clinic is scheduled for Friday, December 4, 2015 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony and tour of the facility along with light refreshments.
Funding for the clinic construction, equipment and furniture is provided in large by an Impact 100 grant and grants from the Dorothea Leonardt Foundation Communities Foundation of Texas, and Pfizer, Inc. Proceeds from the We Care Foundation of Indian River’s annual Mardi Gras Celebration and private donations fund clinic supplies and program activities.
We Care Clinic administrative services are provided by the IRC Health Department. The IRC Hospital District currently funds medical staff salaries including a full-time primary care physician and two patient services/volunteer physician coordinators. These collaborative efforts combined with the expanded We Care Clinic and will effectively double We Care’s capacity to treat patients discharged from the hospital and emergency department. This improves care, prevents medical conditions from becoming acute, decreases hospital and emergency room admissions and re-admissions and saves taxpayer dollars.
“We are truly grateful for the community backing from these organizations and the overwhelming support from our community leaders, private donors, businesses and volunteer medical professionals. Without them, the We Care program and the We Care Clinic wouldn’t exist,” explained Shelley Stuven, Executive Director of the We Care Foundation of Indian River.
Patients of the We Care program must reside in Indian River County, be uninsured and meet specific financial eligibility requirements (150% or less of the Federal Poverty Level). Typically, We Care patients are between the ages of 18 and 65. For more information about We Care services visit www.wecareofirc.org or call (772) 562-0123.
About The We Care Foundation of Indian River
The We Care Foundation of Indian River is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that raises funds to help meet non-physician ancillary medical or medically related needs for We Care patients. Examples include after-care wound dressing, cataract lenses, emergency prescription assistance, and transportation for medical appointments. Your donation to the We Care Foundation also supports the We Care Clinic in the Gifford Health Center, Vero Beach. For more information, visit www.wecareofirc.org or call (772) 562-0123.
