Nonprofit of the Month: St. Martin’s Healthcare

Nov 30, 2021, 1:48 PM

The Hastings Mutual Insurance Company Charitable Foundation recognizes the contributions of nonprofit organizations in the communities we serve. Each month, we’ll honor one of those organizations as our Nonprofit of the Month.

St. Martin’s Healthcare is the only free medical clinic in DeKalb and Noble counties in Indiana. It offers doctor and dentist care for the uninsured and underinsured. St. Martin’s estimates that more than 25 percent of residents of the two counties will be uninsured or underinsured at some point during the year.

It was created in 2005 as program out of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Garrett, Indiana, but has since become a separate organization. It’s open between 32 and 35 hours, for 5 days a week. Care options include general medical care, as well as dental, limited vision, minor general surgery, lab testing, and a pulmonary clinic. “It’s like a family doctor,” said executive director Tammy Stafford. “One of our goals is to keep people out of the emergency room.”

It is entirely funded by donations — no government contributions. Free prescription medication is provided for people who need it, thanks to relationships with more than two dozen pharmaceutical companies. In January, St. Martin’s will formally launch its mental health program, and already, 35 patients are receiving treatment from a mental health counselor.

“Without the support of the community, free clinics (like ours) couldn’t do what we do,” Stafford said.

St. Martin’s Healthcare is supported by Donavan Insurance Services.

“(In insurance,) I have to think of the worst things that can happen to a person and protect them from those things; my work at St. Martin’s is a positive light in my life,” said Donna Martin-Boseker, president of Donavan Insurance Services, and a member of the St. Martin’s Healthcare board for the past 6 years.

“Unfortunately, with the cost of medical care today, there are a great deal of working people that can’t afford to go to the doctor. St. Martin’s not only helps the uninsured, but we now help those who cannot afford the deductible. We provide that much-needed care.”

For more on the St. Martin’s Healthcare program, visit their website.