Joblessness inspires opening of volunteer clinics

Effects of the recession can be seen, felt and heard throughout the valley. People have lost jobs, homes and other necessities in the last few years.

Oncologist Shamoon Ahmad recognized the need felt by people who lost their medical insurance, which led to the opening of the Community Care Clinic, 1015 S. Cimarron Road, in 2009.

"At the height of the recession, I started to see longtime patients lose their insurance because they lost their jobs," Ahmad said. "I wanted to figure out exactly what to do to help get them back, and that's when we established the clinic under (the nonprofit) Southern Nevada Community Foundation."

The need for medical assistance for the uninsured grew to a point in which Ahmad and his wife, Dr. Lubna Ahmad, who specializes in diabetes and endocrinology care, decided to open a second location downtown at 711 Morgan Ave. in November. The two clinics operate on an as-needed basis, typically between 2 and 4 p.m. on each first and third Friday of the month. Appointments and walk-ins are welcome, though the line grows long well before the clinic is scheduled to open.

"Patients start lining up at 9 a.m.," said Crema Canlapan, a nurse who volunteers at the clinics. "I open the door at 1:30 (p.m.) to start at 2, but sometimes I have to open up at noon because of the demand."

Volunteer physicians, nurses and medical students operate the clinics, providing basic care to patients and free referrals to specialists as needed. Ahmad hopes to open the clinics more often, but the hours of operation are limited due to the need for more volunteers.

"We have anywhere between three and five physicians who volunteer and two to three actively volunteering in the clinics (when they're open)," Ahmad said. "We ask each doctor to donate at least three hours once a month. If we have more volunteers, we'll be able to open clinics on more days and expand hours, as well."

Ahmad estimate d that doctors have seen more than 500 patients at the first location in the past year. Volunteers offer primary care services, ranging from tests to prescription assistance.

"A lot of the time, we're giving (patients) gift cards for pharmacies or laboratory tests for them without charge," Ahmad said. "Many of the patients we see have absolutely no health care, have diabetes of high blood pressure. Some of them have established conditions or uncontrolled diseases because they can't afford a doctor."

Volunteers see patients of all ages, wh o Ahmad said vary from middle class individuals who lost jobs and health insurance to those who don't qualify for government assistance. Most of them, Ahmad said, are middle-class individuals who lost jobs and health care benefits and were unsure of where to turn.

Canlapan sees patients such as these weekly and recognizes their instant health care needs.

"Some of the patients we're seeing used to have insurance but don't have it anymore," Canlapan said. "They come in and they're thankful they found something (that works) for them. We really see the need, and we wish we could do more."

For more information on Community Care Clinic, call 647-2037 or visit freecliniclv.com.

Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Lisa Carter at lcarter@viewnews.com or 383-4686.