Pocono News Section

Medical clinic gets state grant

Medical clinic gets state grant - Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 2:35PM EST

Reported by: David DeCosmo WYOU TV News
Thursday, Dec 4, 2008 @ 02:35pm EST
JERMYN, LACKAWANNA COUNTY

The Mid Valley Medical Clinic in Jermyn has received a state grant of $200,000 to expand its services to uninsured and under insured patients in Lackawanna County.

The clinic, one of two operated by the Scranton Temple Residency Program, also provides training to internal medicine residents to become primary care physicians. Director, Dr. Linda Thomas said "We're a clinic and a classroom at the same time."

The grant was delivered by acting Pa. Secretary of Health Everett James. He said the money will be used to allow the clinic to see an additional 3,000 primary care visits over the 17-month term of the grant. The clinic will add Saturday hours to its schedule to see additional patients.

State Senator Bob Mellow said the clinic offerers services that are important to an area with a high elderly population. Senator Mellow said many of those residents do not have health insurance. The senator says the availability of clinics like the one in Jermny take some of the stress off of area hospital emergency rooms.