The Health for Friends clinic provides health care to low-income and uninsured individuals, said Maurine Garton, Health for Friends executive director. Garton said it's also a place where students can volunteer their time to serve the Norman community efficiently.
Over its 18-year existence, Health for Friends has provided more than 30,000 patients with discounted medical services, including X-rays, prescription medications and referrals to low-cost optometry centers, according to its Web site.
Lemona Herrel is one of those patients. A housekeeper who cannot afford to get insurance or basic health care, Herrel said she has found the clinic very helpful. Referred to the center by some of her friends, Herrel made her third trip to the clinic on Friday, this time for dental work.
"Today, I get new teeth," she said.
The majority of Health for Friends patients are poor and uninsured, Garton said. They also see students who don't have health insurance or cannot afford to purchase drugs at the normal costs.
"At Health for Friends, no one is turned away because of inability to pay," Garton said. "Our patients receive the same quality care they would get if they were paying top dollar. In fact, the care may be better because we are not operating like a business."
Garton said it could not have been done without a wide range of donations.
"We are lucky to live in a community that recognizes the importance of health care and supports us in many ways," Garton said. "We receive small and big donations, and it is only because of those gifts that we are able to do what we do."
OU has also brought its share of assistance to the program.
The College of Architecture designed the Health for Friends facility, and students from the College of Nursing donate their time in the spring, Garton said.
"Pre-medical and pre-pharmacy students come here to volunteer their time and acquire some experience," Garton said.
Brandon Bruner studies public health at the OU Health Sciences Center and helps at the Health for Friends dental clinic every Friday. He said his involvement at Health for Friends is a major contribution to his education.
"This gives me more knowledge of what I want to do," Bruner said.
Channa Barrett, pre-med senior, has benefited from working at the clinic as well. She said her attendance there is comparable to being in a lab.
"The doctor explains to us what we don't understand," she said. "Right now we are covering blood pressure in my human physiology class."
Barrett joined the clinic through the work-study program, but she also volunteers there three hours a week.
Another aspect of the clinic is making sure it is inclusive of all students.
Lisa Flores, marketing junior, works as a receptionist at Health for Friends, but her job also includes database management, income verification and translation for Spanish-speaking patients.
"We receive many people from Mexico, Central [America] and South America," Flores said. "I translate their prescriptions from medical terminology to simple and comprehensive Spanish."
Flores said she also enjoys the learning experiences provided at the clinic.
"I am a marketing student who knows how to take blood pressure," she said.
Health for Friends is located at 317 E. Himes St. near Normal Regional Hospital. For more information go to www.healthforfriends.com.
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