Good Samaritan Health Clinic shares year-end report
CULLMAN, Ala. – Good Samaritan Health Clinic Director Jolanda Hutson recently shared with The Tribune her report on the organization’s achievements in 2024 and exciting plans for the year ahead.
Good Samaritan Clinic is the only free health clinic for adult residents of Cullman County who are medically uninsured and without the ability to pay for health care services, operating as a primary care clinic with a full range of free services, including:
- Medications
- Lab work
- Diagnostic testing
- Referrals
- Dental extractions
- Mental health counseling
- Hearing evaluations
- Select vision care
- Social services
- Patient education
- Community health screenings
The clinic offers care for routine illnesses as well as comprehensive care for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol and COPD.
Good Samaritan operates five days a week and is staffed by eight employees including a certified registered nurse practitioner, two certified pharmacy technicians, an LPN who serves as a medical assistant/phlebotomist and a part-time social services advocate.
Meeting needs
“Good Samaritan Clinic meets a critical need for healthcare within the uninsured population,” said Hutson. “According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation via ADPH, 21% of Cullman County adult residents are uninsured. This equates to over 10,000 people without health insurance in Cullman County ranking Cullman 11th in the state with only 10 Alabama counties having a higher uninsured adult population rate. In comparison, the state’s average is 18% uninsured.
“Even with the Affordable Care Act, there are still many uninsured in our community. According to the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC), many individuals find themselves in a ‘coverage gap,’ where their income is too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to receive the public subsidies and tax credits necessary for them to purchase insurance on the health care marketplaces.
“The key to what we do through Good Samaritan Clinic is providing access to primary care for the uninsured in our Community. In doing so, we are not only preventing diseases that they may otherwise have had but also finding diseases in earlier stages where they can be treated, giving patients the opportunity to manage their conditions, leading productive, satisfying lives. We have seen that the uninsured population in our area is reluctant to seek medical care due to concerns about prohibitive cost, and when they do, often their illness has already progressed, making their prognosis less favorable and their condition costlier to treat.
“We are passionate about giving these individuals a way to maintain their healthcare services in order to be as healthy as possible. As a result, the clinic provides the uninsured with an efficient alternative to the hospital’s emergency room, lessening the demand on our local hospital.”
By the numbers
In 2023 (2024 stats not yet available), Good Samaritan:
- Served 622 unduplicated patients (12% increase from 2022)
- Accepted 249 new patients (almost 60% increase from 2021)
- Served 1,474 patient triage phone notes (36% increase from 2022)
- Served 3,958 total patient visits (23% increase from 2022)
- Referred 540 patients to a specialist
- Provided 434 mental health counseling sessions through Haven Counseling Services (15% increase from 2022)
- Dispensed 20,800 prescriptions with retail value of $5.1 million (2022 – 17,436 scripts)
- Delivered direct patient services valued at $6.2 million (2022)
- Received in-kind donated products/services valued at $1.2 million (2022)
How does the Cullman community benefit from Good Samaritan?
Hutson said, “While many of our patients are from a working household, they are unable to afford insurance and the high cost of healthcare. In addition, many have chronic medical conditions that require daily medications and frequent office visits. Without the clinic, these patients would not have a continuum of quality healthcare or prescriptions and would be forced to use the emergency room for their care, which is not sustainable for either the hospital or the community.
“It is much less costly to provide care in an office visit setting than in a hospital emergency room. According to Consumer Health Ratings, an average office visit in 2020 costs $335, compared to $1,150 for an ER visit. In addition, the average ER visit cost for someone uninsured was about $1,500 in 2020, up 23% compared to a year earlier.
“Many times, when an uninsured patient goes to the ER, the hospital ends up writing off their cost of treatment as charity care, ultimately resulting in increased health care costs for the insured. When the uninsured has the option to come to Good Samaritan Clinic, the hospital is able to provide more efficient and faster care for true emergencies. With access to quality care through Good Samaritan, the uninsured receive timely medical care before their condition worsens and are able to manage their conditions leading productive, satisfying lives. Their loved ones can also rest assured that they are receiving the best possible care available. In fact, Good Samaritan Health Clinic’s patient care data is better than both the national and community averages.”
New facility coming in 2025
In April Good Samaritan announced plans to relocate to a new facility. Since January 2004, Frank Brown had allowed Good Samaritan to occupy a portion of the main floor of the Folsom Center (Good Samaritan’s current location) without paying rent, utilities, medical waste disposal or maintenance. That changed in 2022.
Hutson shared, “We started this journey in April of 2022 when the board of directors made the decision at our annual board/staff retreat to pursue a new location. We had heard that USA Healthcare (owners of our current location at 401 Arnold Street) had been sold, and the new owners had not offered a lease agreement nor any terms or length of tenancy.”
Hutson told The Tribune that the organization hopes to break ground in March 2025 and open in the late fall of 2025. According to the announcement, the move has three goals:
1. Long-term mission fulfillment: By establishing this new facility, the Clinic will be better positioned to fulfill our mission over the long term, ensuring that we can continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve by expanding our reach and impact.
2. Prevention and wellness: The new facility will allow a prevention and wellness component to our service offerings. The addition of a cardio room will provide access to exercise facilities thereby empowering our patients to take proactive steps towards their health and well-being, ultimately contributing to a healthier population.
3. Exceptional care for all uninsured residents: The new facility will provide a desirable and exceptional option for all uninsured residents in our community. We are committed to ensuring that quality healthcare remains accessible to everyone.
Including purchase of the property and construction of the 5,040-square-foot building, the project is expected to cost $2.8 million. As of late December, Good Samaritan was within $200,000 of the goal.
“We are overwhelmed with God’s provision and the community’s support,” said Hutson.
Thanks to many
In the fall 2024 Good Samaritan newsletter, Hutson wrote:
“I am thankful for the patients we serve who otherwise have no place to turn for their healthcare needs. While many say the Clinic is a blessing to them, we know that they are the ones being a blessing to us daily.
“I am thankful for our faithful donors who believe in our mission and enable us to provide quality continuity of care for the uninsured in our community.
“I am thankful for new relationships I have established in the community as a representative and ambassador for the Clinic.
“I am thankful for the Cullman community and beyond who have been incredibly supportive of our vision and dream of having a new location.
“I am thankful to serve alongside dedicated and compassionate staff who provide excellent care to our patients, being an encouragement to them along the way.
“I am thankful for our selfless volunteers who have a heart for our patients and freely give their time and talents without expecting anything in return.
“I am thankful for a network of physicians and dentists who see our patients in need of more specialized care.
“I am thankful to our board of directors who give their time and expertise for the betterment of the community.
“I am thankful for the 40+ campaign ambassadors who extended an invitation to friends and family to attend our Campaign Dinner, so many could learn about the Clinic and the difference it makes in our community each day.”
Hutson encouraged The Tribune to share that list and not single out particular people or groups “because we literally could not do what we do without each and every one listed in that story.”
Can you use Good Samaritan’s service?
While patients must meet certain criteria to qualify (uninsured residents of Cullman County between 19 and 65 who meet income eligibility), you do not have to live in poverty to qualify. Eligibility criteria and patient application can be found at www.goodsamaritancullman.com. If anyone has questions or needs assistance completing the application, call 256-255-5963 for help.
Get involved
Good Samaritan accepts donations online at www.goodsamaritancullman.com. Donors may click on the red donate button for either Annual Campaign or New Facility Capital Campaign. To avoid the online transaction fee, donations may be mailed to Good Samaritan Health Clinic at 401 Arnold St. NE, Suite A, Cullman, AL 35055.
You can also support Good Samaritan Health Clinic through your investments while minimizing your tax liability by:
- Donating appreciated stock: You pay no capital gains taxes, and GSHC receives the full stock value once liquidated.
- Donating RMDs: Consider donating a portion of your required minimum distribution (RMD) from your retirement account, reducing your taxable income while making a meaningful impact.
For details, contact your financial advisor or Jolanda Hutson, jhutson@goodsamaritancullman.com or 256-255-5964.
Patients share
Following are testimonials shared with permission of the patients, whose full names are withheld.
Donna said, “I was afraid of the doctor to be honest…I was scared because I knew it was bad. And, I was scared to come (to the clinic) because I felt like they couldn’t help me. I just didn’t see myself as being important enough that somebody would help me. I was also afraid that I would be judged a great deal because I had let it get so bad. And, I didn’t know what to do. I had a 20-pound tumor inside of me. I prayed about it a lot. I asked God to please help me because I didn’t know what to do; God sent me some help.”
Jeffery said, “Without being able to come here, my health wouldn’t be good enough to work. My health is better since I’ve been coming here, and I ‘live normal’. It’s been a life saver.”
Edith said, “I don’t know where I’d be right now without the care I’ve received from Good Samaritan. Between premiums and deductibles, I would not have been able to afford my insulin and diabetic medications, blood work, or even be seen. I don’t know what could have happened to me. It was a life saver and a blessing.”
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