Destin medical clinic gives patients ‘hope'

For more than 500 patients in Destin, a medical care clinic for the working uninsured offers “hope”. Now in its third year of operation, the Hope Medical Clinic, established by family physician Dr. Luke Lentz, offers primary care, preventive care, prescription assistance, case management, patient education, ongoing care for chronic illness and conditions, limited lab service, support counseling and referrals.

Last year, the total dollar amount of donated medical care for all volunteer levels, including physicians, amounted to almost $600,000. The clinic also provided $735,000 in free prescription medications for its patients.

“Most of our patients are service industry employees who work hourly without benefits or are individuals or small groups who can’t afford insurance,” said Lentz. “It’s a large population of people. I’ve got 35 years in family practice and I was raised in Columbia, SC, where there was a free clinic available for these patients. After moving here in 2001, I saw the need for a clinic because there are so many people without healthcare. I also practice emergency room care in the smaller hospitals as well as family medicine. That’s when I see patients coming in with no insurance because, often, it’s their only option.”

Lentz practiced family medicine in Panama City from 2001 until 2005 and during that time began treating patients with chronic fatigue syndrome which led to treating patients for fibromyalgia which later evolved into Lyme disease “because they are all related in cause and treatment.” Now, he specializes in treating patients with Lyme disease. In 2006, he began working for the rural health center in DeFuniak Springs at a primary care site and later moved into emergency room work.

“I’m one of the few Lyme doctors in the Panhandle,” he said. “Every county in this state has Lyme disease and they’re the bane of family care. That’s become my niche along with emergency room care. I give back to family medicine with my work at Hope Medical Clinic and I’ve been there every Tuesday afternoon since March 2009.”

Dr. Lentz, with the aid of clinic director Tim Roberts, brought what began as a vision to provide access to healthcare for the working uninsured four years ago to reality.

“I’m from Portland, Ore., and we were put in contact with each other,” said Roberts. “We found that we had similar dreams and worked together on developing our plan for the vision and mission statement. Next, we created the board based on the vision that he had. Without Dr. Lentz, the clinic might not have happened.”

The Hope Medical Clinic took several years to get off the ground.  Patients are seen by appointment and the clinic is the medical home for many patients with chronic illnesses. Dr. Lentz is the clinic medical director and sits on the board in addition to his volunteer service each week.

“Being treated in the emergency room is not good for the patient or the community,” said Roberts. “Dr. Lentz believes that there’s a spiritual calling to provide healthcare for those in need. He uses his talent and skills to serve people and is passionate about helping them get better and giving them what they need.”

The clinic is located at the Destin Church of Christ and was funded by the church for the first six months in operation. Lentz, a church member, approached the city to secure an exception to the law that would allow a free clinic to be established on the church site. Last year, the clinic received a $10,000 donation from the Caduceus Society on the Emerald Coast that assured its funding for the first full year.

“In Florida, we’re covered under sovereign immunity and patients sign a waiver for treatment that mandates that their household income cannot exceed 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines,” Lentz said. “There was nothing for these patients before the clinic. And, the need is rising with more and more people out of work. It costs $1,600 for each patient to visit the emergency room one time, but for $300 we can see a patient for a year.”

Due to its great success, Roberts says that he and Lentz are now setting their sights even higher and hope to take this model to more areas.

“We weren’t sure this was going to happen, but a lot of things have come together. Pivotal to our success is the other doctors who are volunteering their services (three physicians in addition to Lentz volunteer their time at the clinic on a regular basis). We’re always looking for more doctors to donate their time — our facility can handle more.”