Local spotlight: CARE Clinic celebrates 16 years

"Walking into CARE Clinic is like walking into a home."

Enjoy this excerpt from a feature story spotlighting CARE Clinic's longtime volunteers, and why they're so committed to compassionate care, as published in the Republican Eagle:

“When we started, there was absolutely nothing in there, because the space had been empty,” said Dr. Brian Malyon, CARE Clinic’s co-medical director who also practices family medicine at Mayo Clinic. “We had to order absolutely everything. It was starting from scratch: the medical supplies for looking in the ears, the eyes, doing a blood draw, doing labs, all the equipment.”

So why did these health care professionals partake in the movement at all? Because they believe the key to providing transformative care is simple: “You treat every patient the same.”

“I don’t care if you have a million dollars or you don’t have a cent to your name. I try to give them the best dentistry I possibly can,” Noesen said. “And the people that don’t have much are very, very grateful for your services. Some people would think, how can you thank your dentist? Like, you’re inflicting pain. But they’re actually very thankful for getting them out of pain.”

There is a pattern here: easy access to immediate care, which then promotes a continual relationship — a trusted home — for long-term healthy living. It extends across the board at CARE Clinic.