[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYXqefaEeZ8]

The Warsaw Family Health Clinic, also known as Northern Indiana MCH Network (NIMCHN) is revolutionizing the way health services are being offered to residents of Kosciusko County.

The clinic, which specializes in reproductive health care services, prides itself on putting its patient first. Offering services to people of all walks of life, NIMCHN promises to provide health care to everyone – regardless of their ability to pay.

Located at 2307 E. Center St. Suite A, the clinic offers a variety of services including numerous birth control options, emergency contraception, STD testing and treatment, pregnancy testing and options counseling, teen services and counseling, comprehensive physical exams and health screening for men and women, pelvic and breast exams, pap smears and HIV testing and counseling.

The clinic services all teens, men and women of reproductive age and promises complete privacy with their health care. Teenagers interested in visiting the clinic need not do so with a parent and will receive the same privacy assurance as all other patients of the clinic. In addition, NIMCHN offers bilingual health care to its patients.

As a federally funded non-profit clinic, costs of services operate on a sliding fee scale meaning services are based upon each individual’s income. According to Clinical director Heidi Pollard BSN, RN, most patients are able to qualify for free services. Pollard also states that clients of the clinic are offered services even if they are unable to pay. According to Pollard, the clinic does not turn patients away and does not turn patients over to collections or bar them from future services.

“We are a very comfortable, down to earth clinic,” stated Pollard. “We know we are talking about personal information and we are very respective of that. When you walk into most sliding fee scale clinics it’s dirty and cold and you’ll see the complete opposite when you walk into our clinic. When you walk in it’s clean, well kept and filled with smiling faces. Everyone that we have working is genuinely happy to be there and has the same passion and desire to do what we are doing. Truly, we are here for the community – we want to be able to help people and provide low cost services and they shouldn’t have to compromise to have the same quality of care that they would get at a regular office.”

According to Pollard, the clinic recently experienced budget cuts. Though many clinics may adjust their services with these cuts, NIMCHN has instead taken it upon themselves to to alleviate the strain of the financial differences.

“We took a 10 percent decrease in federal funding across the board – all federal programs had to take a 2 percent decrease and Title 10 itself took an 8 percent decrease,” Pollard explained. “We have a very small staff and we all wear many hats. Our nurse practitioner  for example cleans the clinic instead of hiring someone outside of the staff to do so. We all pitch in. We have to be very creative with spending. We want to be sure we spend our money on the services. We could do a big billboard campaign but its extremely costly and that’s less money we can spend on birth control, STD medications, condoms and things like that. We do everything to make sure it doesn’t affect the patient.”

Though the clinic boasts lower prices, complete and total privacy and a clean, friendly environment, Pollard fears many are not aware of the facility. With continual cuts to Title 10 programs continually on the rise, Pollard said that ensuring men, women and teens are aware of the resources and services the clinic provides is more important than ever.

According to Pollard, from looking at Annie E. Casey Foundation 2010 statistics for teen pregnancies, Kosciusko County has a teen pregnancy rate per 1,000 people in the county, 21.5 citizens are pregnant teens, which is higher than more populated area counties such as St. Joe County, which has a 17.8 per 1,000 and slightly less than Marion County which has a pregnancy rating of 24.3 per 1,000.

“We are always working under a very tight budget and so if you have a clinic that is not performing and seeing enough people than [theoretically] you can use that money in a different county. Our biggest concern is that women, teens and men in Kosciusko County are not aware we are here and are going elsewhere thinking they will get cheaper services.”

To compare NIMCHN to other clinics in Warsaw, Pollard said the Depo-Provera birth control shot, which is approximately $80 elsewhere, is just $10 at the clinic. “Even if you came into our clinic and did not qualify for any discounts whatsoever and we charged the full price, it is still significantly less than what you would pay elsewhere,” she said. “Most of our clients, however, do qualify for discount services.”

Those interested in visiting the North Indiana MCH Network clinic may call 574-306-0298 to set up an appointment. The clinic also welcomes walk-in visitors and offers free condoms to all men, women and teens in the lobby.

To learn more about the numerous health services offered by clinic visit www.nimchn.com.