PD News

By Ed Ackerman eackerman@psdispatch.com
Pittston Sunday Dispatch Editor

Ann Cocco couldn’t stay retired for long.

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Principals of the Care and Concern Free Health Clinic. From left, Dr. John Callahan, Nurse Practitioner Diane Barush, Bernice Ambrosino, RN, Gloria Blandina, director, and Dr. Lewis Druffner.

Photos by Bill Tarutis

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Theresa Romaldini, a pharmacy student from Wilkes University, sorts medications as part of her Service Learning course.

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When you serve people for an entire career, as Ann did while working for the Welfare Department, it’s hard to turn that enthusiasm off.

“Actually, impossible,” Ann said on the second anniversary of the Care and Concern Free Health Care Clinic which was her brainchild.

“I always had a dream of what I would do when I retired,” she said, “and it was really to open a shelter. But I knew that was financially out of reach. Then one day something just popped into my head – a free health clinic, a place to care for all those people who have fallen between the cracks.”

Ann, a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish Community in Pittston, took her idea to her friend Nancy Baiera who serves with her on the parish’s Care and Concern Ministry. Nancy took it to Deacon Jim Cortegerone and Jim took it to pastor Msgr. John Bendik.

That was in April of 2007.

With Msgr. Bendik’s blessing and a start-up grant from the Diocesan Appeal, the clinic opened on Nov. 7, 2007, in the former Seton Catholic High School building on William Street in Pittston. Ann remembers it well. So do Dr. John Callahan, who volunteers his time, Gloria Blandina who serves as director, Jim Cortegerone and Msgr. Bendik.

“We remember it because of the turnout,” Ann says. “One person showed up. We opened the doors at 5 p.m. and the first patient walked in at 7:25. And all she needed was a form filled out.”

Times have changed.

Now the staff tries to limit the weekly turnout to 21 patients but they have been known to serve as many as 35 in one evening.

The clinic, as it has been since day one, is open Wednesday evenings with registration from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

During the past 24 months, the clinic has:

• Treated more than 1,600 people.

• Logged more than 7,200 volunteer hours.

• Hosted internships for pharmacy and nursing students.

• Offered educational programs for chronic diseases.

• Coordinated lab tests and x-rays at no cost to patients.

• Assisted more than 800 people with Public Assistance needs.

• Coordinated care for patients with urgent dental needs.

• Offered nutritional counseling to those in need of this service.

The clinic has a licensed social worker available for counseling sessions and has been able to assist hundreds of patients with free medication through a grant from the CEO/Blue Ribbon Foundation.

Those statistics are provided by Blandina who adds, “People from White Haven to Clarks Summit have come to the clinic in need of help with sore throats to late stage cancer diagnosis. We have served them all. 50% of the people are referred for some form of Public Assistance.”

The impact reaches far beyond those who show up at the doors on Wednesday, Blandina points out. “We just served our 1603th patient,” she says. “That’s 1603 patients who did not go to the local ER. That amounts to huge savings for everyone.”

“My greatest thrill,” Msgr. Bendik said, “is seeing the dedication of the workers each and every Wednesday night. Their smiles, their eagerness are still evident two full years later. In fact, they keep wanting to do more.”

He explained that the free health clinic is one of three “arms” of the parish’s Care and Concern Ministry. The other two are a free food pantry and a free kids’ clothes closet. “All are staffed by volunteers,” he said, “and not all of the volunteers are from our parish. That makes it even more gratifying.”

While none of those involved with the clinic are interested in taking credit, perhaps the most reluctant is the one who is most integral, Dr. Callahan, who has been on board since the beginning. Dr. Callahan insists the work he does is not on a volunteer basis. “I get paid,” he says. “I get paid in smiles. And sometimes, in ‘thank yous’ … not that we expect it.”

Dr. Lewis Druffner also volunteers his services as does Dr. Mary Sewatsky when her schedule permits. Dr. Joseph Costello, a podiatrist, donates one Wednesday a month, even though that is his day off, and his wife, Mary, comes along to assist. “My daughter Kayla used to come along but she’s now at the University of Pennsylvania,” Dr. Costello said.

The volunteers, who number more than 100, include registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, a pharmacist and pharmacy students, social workers, a dental hygienist and a licensed nutritionist. On any given Wednesday there are usually 30 or more volunteers on hand.

“Being part of this is a very humbling experience,” Blandina said. “The clinic has taken on a life of its own. Whenever there’s been a need, someone, somehow has shown up just at the right time and suddenly we were offering a new service. It is truly an incredible journey.”

And what does Ann Cocco think of all of this?

“I think we should expand,” she says. “I’d love to offer a well baby clinic. And don’t think for a minute I’ve forgotten about a shelter.”

Ann just cannot stay retired.

Send donations to Care and Concern Ministries, 35 William St., Pittston, PA 18640. For information call 654-9923.