Affordable primary healthcare for uninsured islanders available | News, Sports, Jobs

Uninsured Pine Islanders will soon have access to affordable primary healthcare thanks to a partnership between non-profit organizations Beacon of Hope and Samaritan Health and Wellness Center Inc. Beginning Wednesday, March 22, the primary care health clinic will open at the Beacon, and men, women and children may make appointments for acute and chronic physical and mental health care needs.

Samaritan Health and Wellness Center is a Christ-centered primary care integrated behavioral health clinic that opened for business in November 2014 to provide care for uninsured and underinsured families and individuals. To date, there are nearly 10,000 unduplicated patients who call Samaritan their medical home. The center is fully led and staffed by advanced practice registered nurses and mental health counselors. One of the APRNs will provide care for patients at the Beacon.

The main office of Samaritan Health and Wellness Center, at 643 Cape Coral Parkway, East, was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian. The clinic was displaced for the past five months and used a space at Skyline Church in Cape Coral to continue caring for patients.

The staff recently returned to the repaired office on March 1.

Appointments are $25 each, and deeply discounted lab fees as well as diagnostic imaging services are also available.

For more information, please call the Beacon of Hope, which is located at 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, St. James City, at 239-283-5123.