In an old chapel, Hasting’s newest health clinic will serve those who might otherwise not be able to afford healthcare. It’s a federally qualified health center (FQHC), one of only seven in the state.
Also known as a community health center, FQHCs aim to give those who are underinsured another option for healthcare at a reduced rate. The resource coordinator can help community members, too, by determining their eligibility for resources such as Medicaid.
Heartland Health Center in Hastings is a branch of a health center in Grand Island, which sees patients from nearly 30 zip codes, according to CEO Tami Smith.
When she took on the role as CEO a little more than six years ago, Smith knew it was just a matter of time before HHC’s services made their way to Hastings.
Market assessments showed Hastings’ high poverty rate and low rates of accessible healthcare, Smith said.
“We knew we were coming to Hastings one way or another,” Smith said. “I think definitely it's a service needed, and we've had amazing community support coming in.”
Deb Ross has lived in Hastings her whole life, besides her college years spent out of state, she said. As a member of the community and a sitting board member for Heartland Health Center, Ross sees the need for healthcare in her community.
“We need it desperately. It gives access to the uninsured population,” she said. “We have all of our services in Spanish as well as English, everything written, oral. We have staff. You walk in, you'll have find somebody immediately talk to.”
Both Smith and Ross said finding a dentist has been the most difficult aspect of the clinic. As an FQHC, the clinic can help pay down student loans for hired staff. But attracting and retaining dentists, hygienists and support staff can be difficult – especially in rural Nebraska, Ross said.
“There just isn't enough. There's not enough doctors, dentists. There's just not enough medical allied health people for rural Nebraska, and it's getting worse and worse,” Ross said. “It's not getting better.”
For the western and central parts of the state, Grand Island’s HHC is the only affordable health clinic with dental services besides one in Gering, a stretch of more than 300 miles.
Patients from outside the city of Hastings will likely rely heavily on the affordable option, too. But Smith doesn’t feel pressured by the large service area, and her staff shouldn’t either.
“We've got this ginormous waiting list, they want to serve everybody, but I just have to remind them that if we weren't here, think of the thousands of people that would not be getting any service,” she said.
High demand won’t scare her away from ensuring exam rooms are filled and patients’ needs are met.
“We're making a big difference,” Smith said. “We know there's more that we can make a difference with, but we have got to make sure that we are focused on the amount of people that we are helping instead of the amount that we can't.”