SAPULPA, Okla. — A new health clinic is opening in Sapulpa to help fill the gap in medical access for the uninsured.
"I know what kind of impact that is if you don't have $99 to pay your office to see me, that it's very hard on your home life paying bills," said Dr. Rachel Ray, an urgent care physician and one of the clinic's directors.
Cura Medical Clinic will be a first-come, first-serve for anyone who does not have health insurance or who do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare.
"We'll do things like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, talk about weight loss," said Dr. Rachel Ray, an urgent care physician and one of the clinic's directors, "Things that need chronic follow up and medications.”
Dr. Ray said there staffing is solely volunteer-based with three physicians, one physician assistant, four nurses and office staff.
The clinic will be open one day a week, every Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. Two providers in the evening will each be able to see eight patients.
The free clinic is part of Cura for the World, a nonprofit organization that helps build clinics in developing countries. It was created in 2016 "to be a platform for those who want to fight for the poor and neglected."
According to its founder, Dr. T.J. Trad, the organization has helped more than 10,000 patients in Uganda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Peru. The invasive cardiologist said Sapulpa's clinic is part of his vision Project USAto expand.
“Our goal is to have a clinic like this in every state, so this is just the beginning," said Dr. Trad.
He said medical access should not prevent people from leading a healthy life.
Creek County, where the clinic is located, is considered a "medically underserved area" by Oklahoma State Department of Health, in which there's a shortage of health care services.
The clinic will start seeing patients on Tuesday, July 23 at 6 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30 p.m.
It is located on 1012 W. Taft St. next to Walmart in Sapulpa.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
