Area residents can see a medical professional for free under a new program by CentraCare.
Project HEAL (Health, Education, Access and Link) was started a few years ago at CentraCare in St. Cloud. It now has 10 locations serving about 500 people.
“We wanted to be able to offer care to the groups in our community that needed help the most but didn’t have access,” says Melissa Pribyl, community wellness specialist at CentraCare.
“They either don’t have a regular provider or are new to the community and haven’t set one up yet, or they could be uninsured or underinsured.”
Under the HEAL Program, clients can see a doctor or nurse practitioner for free in a number of locations. The program recently expanded to Monticello and Big Lake.
“We come out with at least one nursing staff and one provider. They’re all volunteers from the hospital and local clinics,” says Pribyl. “We offer basic services. Somebody may come in with a sore knee, back pain, sinus infection or earache and want to see a doctor but haven’t been able to make an appointment either due to time constraints or co-pay issues or things like that.”
They can see a doctor and get diagnosed for free, with no income requirements and no insurance.
“Everybody is eligible,” says Pribyl.
“And we have the ability to write a prescription and set people up with an appointment at the clinic,” says Jessica Hodson, D.O.
Hodson has been a volunteer at Big Lake. HEAL sees clients at the Big Lake Food Shelf, which is the newest site that started in December.
So far, the food shelf has had the HEAL program three times without too many clients or long lines.
“It’s been pretty quiet. We’re so new there’s still some hesitancy about what we do and what we don’t do,” says Hodson. “Some people are concerned about being charged. But it’s free. We’re still in that trial period about getting the word out.”
The HEAL program doesn’t do procedures or lab testing.
“It’s good old-fashioned eyes, ear and nose diagnostic,” says Pribyl. “We continue to educate and let them know what we can offer. We have a sign that says the doctor is in.”
The HEAL program is available at the Big Lake Food Shelf the first Monday of each month from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Monticello High School hosts their HEAL program the first Thursday of each month from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.
“We’re very thankful for the community support,” says Pribyl.
For more information on Project HEAL in Big Lake call Paul Knutson at 320-240-3116.
