DOBSON — For years the Surry County Health and Nutrition Center has operated a primary care clinic for children, and now the center also has a full-time clinic for adults.

Health department officials applied last year for grants to fund a full-time primary care clinic for adults. The agency received two funding sources to make the clinic possible. A few months ago, the health center hired Michael Keller, physician assistant, and the clinic began operating full time.

Deborah Creed, director of nursing for the health center, explained that the clinic is open to county residents age 18 or older and is geared toward the uninsured or underinsured.

“We want to provide care for people who feel like they don’t have anywhere to go,” Creed remarked.

Before, the health department only offered a part-time clinic for adults. Creed said she thinks the new program will reach out to those in the county who are affected by the economic problems in the area.

“We felt like this was something we needed to do,” said Creed.

Patients can come to the clinic to be treated for acute illnesses such as the flu, colds or earaches. They can also come for regular check-ups for chronic illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension.

Creed said, “Some of the people coming in are residents that may not have seen a doctor for many, many years.”

The center has the ability to do some lab work there. Through a partnership with Laboratory Corporation, the clinic offers discounted lab work prices.

“We really have affordable lab services,” Creed noted.

Some lab work does have to be sent outside, though, and patients are responsible for paying those charges. To utilize the in-house cheaper lab services, a person must be a regular patient of the clinic.

People can visit the clinic for a flat fee of $20 per visit excluding any outside lab work that needs to be done.

Creed said, “If they feel like they can’t afford the $20, then they need to tell us when they come in that they want to apply for MAP.”

MAP stands for Medical Access Program, which is a program funded through the state. Participants in this program pay a set fee to visit the clinic based on their income. They pay $5, $10, $15, or $20 depending on their income level. Participants in MAP can visit the clinic up to 20 times per year for the set fee they qualified for.

The clinic is open from 8:15 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Health and Nutrition Center in Dobson. The center is located at the Surry County Government Center off of Hamby Road.

The Primary Care Program is now taking applications for the clinic. Residents should call 401-8471 to make an appointment. If no one answers, Creed said people should leave a message including their telephone number so someone can get back with them to set up an appointment.

“We prefer that everybody call before coming just because we have a busy clinic,” Creed said.

If a person is suffering from acute symptoms, the clinic tries to get them into the office that day or the next.

At this time, the clinic typically serves 18 to 22 patients per day. The nursing director is pleased with this number, because she said the department’s goal was to serve 20 people a day.

“I’m encouraging the public to utilize our services,” said Creed.

The health center also offers a primary care clinic for children. This clinic serves all children in the county up to age 18, regardless of whether they have insurance or not. That program’s fees are based on a sliding fee scale.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.