The Tomah Health Community Foundation is helping area residents who need medical care but who are unable to pay for it. Members of the foundation donated $1,000 to the St. Clare Health Mission of Monroe County Nov. 11.
St. Clare Health Mission medical director Michael Saunders, M.D. said the foundation’s support will help with supplies used at the mission’s clinic at the Mayo Health System Sparta campus. “It allows our volunteers to continue their mission, helps us to purchase pharmaceuticals which we distribute through our pharmacy and take care of the other expenses that we have in caring for our patients’ needs,” explained Saunders, who has been a volunteer at the mission for 20 years and medical director since 2017.
The St. Clare Health Mission opened in 1996 as a nonprofit organization to provide medical care for uninsured adults at their clinic in Sparta, which is open the first and third Tuesday evenings of each month beginning at
5 p.m. No appointments are needed, and patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. “They face great challenges in trying to source the care that they need, and many of the patients that we see simply couldn’t afford to be seen or afford to get the medications that they require to meet their needs,” Saunders added.
Saunders said patient numbers have been increasing over the years. “Our numbers are significantly up this year from last year, and actually last year’s numbers were significantly up from the year before. As we approach 2027, we’re concerned that some of the changes in Medicaid cutting back on Affordable Care Act (ACA) funding and subsidies will make care unaffordable for many more individuals, which has the potential to significantly increase our patient population.”
Recently hired clinic coordinator Michelle Jorgensen said patients are very appreciative of the care they receive. “We’re reaching a large population of those patients who wouldn’t otherwise receive care, and I foresee that number only growing in our community as needs change.”
Saunders also credited the work of their volunteer staff which includes physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, certified medical assistants, pharmacists, social workers, and clerical personnel. “Obviously, we couldn’t do this without our volunteers. We have also sourced many of our volunteers from Tomah Health, and hospital employees have been great supporters of our mission.”
Foundation president Brian Eirschele said the donation supports the mission of the foundation to help not-for-profit organizations that enhance the health of residents in Monroe County. “The foundation is focused on giving to health benefits here in our community, and health-related donations are what we do,” said Eirschele. “Tomah is a wonderful place. Because of that in itself, the people are a great part of who we are.”