Carroll County clinic aids uninsured

DELPHI, Ind. (WLFI) - The Family Health Clinic of Carroll County provides healthcare to people who couldn't afford it otherwise.

Toby Armstrong of Delphi said the low cost is what brought her here.

"About 6 years ago I got caught for a period of time with between jobs and no insurance. Yet, I still had health issues that needed to be kept track of," said Armstrong.

Armstrong was pleased to get medical attention at the Family Health Clinic for little cost.

"I felt like the girls were very knowledgable and they were able to do some testing and so forth and follow up on that testing that I would not have been able to afford at that time," said Armstrong.

Clinic Coordinator Barb Strasburger said the clinic started in 1995 to reduce the number of Carroll County residents using more-expensive Lafayette emergency rooms for healthcare. She said everyone is treated here no matter their income or insurance status.

Strasburger said this policy has led to an increase in patients this year.

"More and more unemployed and more and more uninsured. You lose your job, you lose your insurance, unfortunately. And we have seen a lot of new patients in the last year that that has happened to," said Strasburger.

Most of the funding for the clinic's operations comes from grants. A North Central Health Services grant provided this facility, three times the size of the old clinic. The staff moved in last fall.

Executive Director Jim Layman said the clinic has also just qualified for a $1.3 million federal grant, which he said will come in handy.

"It really helps us continue to operate," said Layman. "It helps us to expand our hours, expand our staffing, and will allow us to see more patients."

The clinic, which saw 3000 patients last year, is open Monday through Friday. It's located on Prince William Road in Delphi.