Church bringing free health clinic to Snoqualmie

A tough economy has left many people with few health care options. But thanks to a local church-clinic partnership, Valley residents without health insurance get more choices this winter.

Puget Sound Christian Clinic has teamed up with Snoqualmie Valley Alliance Church to provide medical, dental, and mental health services, free of cost, at a mobile clinic. Starting in January, the clinic will make regular visits to Snoqualmie Valley Alliance Church.

PSCC is based in north Seattle and provides health services to the low-income, uninsured population of King and Snohomish Counties.

Realizing the need for their services was growing, PSCC purchased the 40-foot vehicle to reach the greater region.

“People were traveling a distance to get free services,” said Wendy Eckman, a volunteer site coordinator at the church.

The clinic includes two exam rooms and a laboratory; volunteer nurses and doctors will provide primary care for anyone that needs help.

“This truck allows us to bring it to a variety of communities for a fairly low cost,” Eckman said. “(With) a fixed site and a doctor’s office that’s staffed with volunteers, you’re limited to how much money is involved,” Eckman said.

Making their first appearance at Snoqualmie's Railroad Days, volunteers aboard the clinic were thanked by many visitors for coming to the Valley, Eckman said.

“They recognized that it was needed, and (that) it was awesome that the need was being addressed,” she said. “Some were amazed that it was going to be free of charge."

Many onlookers grabbed applications to become clinic volunteers, she added.

Besides doctors, nurse practioners, nurses, medical assistants and technicians and pharmacists, the clinic needs receptionists, adminstrative assistances, case managers, patient schedulers and spiritual care volunteers.

“There are a lot of people in our community with the time and talents to fill this need,” Eckman said.

The Christian Clinic's philosophy is to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of each patient.

The clinic will also visit Sultan, Snohomish, Monroe, Bellevue, Bothell, Rainer Valley and Shoreline.

To learn more about the service, e-mail Wendy Eckman at healthclinic@svaonline.org.

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