Clinic bursting at seams with patients

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A medical health center here is "turning away" patients.

The Boyle McCauley Health Centre treats about 10,000 patients each year ? half of whom are Native people, says health co-ordinator Sherry McKibben, noting the clinic has been sending patients elsewhere of late. She estimates the clinic turns away about two people a day because it does not have "adequate space to deal with everyone that tries to get help at the clinic.

"If we don't expand soon, we'll be over-whelmed," says McKibben, noting plans are being made to build a new clinic in the next year and a half. She noted about $150,000 has been earmarked for the new facility, which is expected to cost $500,000.

The clinic is searching for Native people to participate and share their ideas with the "community-oriented" establishment. McKibben is confident they can raise the money needed to build a new center but says they need Native representation on the board level, to ensure that everyone has a voice in the direction the center is taking.

The Alberta Indian Health Care Commission often refers people to the health center. "It's the only place in Edmonton that will take people who don't have Alberta Health Centre coverage," says urban health worker Rose Martial. She noted the center has expressed interest in having her sit on the board of directors. She turned down the offer because she had other commitments.

The clinic has been operating in Edmonton's inner city core (10604 ? 96 Street) since 1980, treating patients for various physical and mental disorders. When the center was being built, it was originally constructed to be an apartment building. To meet the needs of the clinic changes were later made in the design of the building. There are still three apartment suites on the upper level of the two-story clinic.

The clinic has since outgrown its original purpose. The second story of the building is virtually unusable for medical purposes because it's "hard to get at," explained McKibben, noting the patients often have poor motoring skills brought on by sickness and self-neglect.

McKibben says they plan to keep the center in the inner city district within walking distance of the patients. She explained the people t he clinic serves are the working poor and other low-income residents who can't afford vehicles. By keeping the new center in the district, she added there's a better chance that these people will go to the clinic for help.

McKibben added many of the people who come to the clinic have foot problems brought on by neglect and poor footwear. To remedy the problem, the clinic offers a foot care treatment service to patients with such ailments as ingrown toenails, calluses and corns. Nurse practitioners also do home visits for patients who can't make it to the clinic.

The clinic also offers a maternal/child care program, which provides parenting education, weekly check-ups and counseling. A community therapist from Regional Mental Health Services also treats patients with mental disorders at the clinic. And, an ASDIC counselor visits the center weekly, helping people with substance abuse problems.

The clinic staff are open to new ideas. McKibben noted the clinic was used by a Native healer two years ago to treat patients with psoriasis, a painful skin disease.

The medicine man, Russell Willier, treated patients at the center over the course of six months. The temporary experimental project set up by the University of Alberta was deemed a success by university researchers.

Despite space problems, McKibben concluded the "bare-bones practice" will remain open until the new facility is built. For more details on the clinic call 422-7333.