Update: New Health Clinic To Open For Poor & Uninsured

For days, Eddie Pannell has been busy working the phones and taking messages from Arkansans inquiring about Harmony Health Clinic.

He explains, "We anticipate saving the lives of a lot of people in our community and improving the health of everyone that comes through these doors without a doubt."

Around every corner, there's still much work to be done.

"If I wasn't so busy, I would probably cry. I mean I am so excited," Pannel says.

There are still nails to hammer and paint to dry, but staff had already pushed back the opening several times, so finally they decided to open regardless of what's left to complete.

Right now, there are three medical exam rooms ready for patients and soon there will be three more. Meantime, the dental wing is also still under construction; this should be finished by mid-January.

Pannel says, "We will be overwhelmed very quickly. There are a lot of people that need our services. We will eventually go to five nights a week."

Thursday evening, they plan to take 24 patients, giving them free care as long as they meet the requirements, like age and income level.

"It's kind of hard. It's kind of hard waking up and having that feeling."

Kanisha Hatton, 30, is a volunteer and she knows all about the great need. She hasn't been covered since she was 18-years-old.

"Knowing that any day that you wake up, you don't have insurance to go to the doctor. Struggling to make ends meat. Struggling to pay off doctor's bills that you have accumulated after you've been ill."

But without donations and volunteers, the clinic will not survive much less thrive, which is why Pannel is hoping the community will continue to lend a hand and bring harmony to those who need it most.

"I really think this clinic is going to be a model clinic. That is our goal," he explains.
The clinic will start seeing patients for the first time today.

Anyone who meets all of the below four criteria are able to receive care at the Harmony Health Clinic.

(1) You must have lived or worked in Pulaski County, Arkansas for at least the last three (3) months;

(2) You do not have private medical insurance, and are not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, or ARKids First;

(3) You must be between the ages of 13 and 64.

(4) Your income must not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Level based upon the size of your immediate family.

For more information on requirements CLICK HERE.

Clinic dates and hours of operation for December are:

Dec. 4- 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm
Dec. 6- 8:00 am until 12:00
Dec. 11- 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm
Dec. 13- 8:00 am until 12:00