Why Are We Called Sojourners?
Grand Avenue Temple was highly instrumental in helping us open the clinic. Not only did they open their doors to us, but they also helped us to establish a trust with the population to which we were trying to reach. When the clinic was first established, over 300 lunches were served to the homeless and hungry each weekend at the Grand Avenue Temple. In addition, the staff there, including Reverend Ron Brooks, addressed the spiritual and material needs of the downtown community for a number of years. Rev. Ron would call his congregation the Sojourners, and the Grand Avenue staff would refer to the homeless individuals who sought assistance at Grand Avenue Temple as “Sojourners,” and so we incorporated this into our clinic title. Hence, the Sojourner Clinic was born.
The old logo is a variation of the skull and cross-bones symbol that is used by the homeless to indicate to others where a physician can be found.
Over time, we have sought to always improve ourselves while maintaining a high standard of care for our patients. This has led us to revamp and upgrade our image to the existing logo in order to reflect our services in a modern world.
Mobile/Disaster Clinic
After Hurricane Katrina when the evacuees came north to Kansas City, many had left without their medications. Due to our mobility, the American Red Cross contacted our clinic and asked Sojourner to set up at the Red Cross center and provide a chronic disease clinic with medication assistance for those patients forced to leave without their medications. This led to our recognition as a fully operational mobile disaster clinic. Every Saturday, we set up our clinic in the Ellis Room of the Grand Avenue Temple United Methodist Church and this is a testament to our mobility. Prior to 11 AM, we construct the clinic rooms with PVC pipes and curtains–these along with our patient beds, laboratory, dispensary, and PAP stations allow us to treat our patients all in one room. After hours, we deconstruct our entire clinic in order to allow the church to continue with its normal operations.
Top Diagnoses: 1. Musculoskeletal | 2. Hypertension | 3. Asthma/COPD | 4. Dermatological Conditions/Infectious Disease | 5. Diabetes, Psychiatric Disorders
New Programs
SMILE Clinic:
A joint venture between Sojourner Health Clinic and the UMKC Dental School, the SMILE clinic is present at Grand Avenue Temple, in conjunction with Sojourner Health Clinic, once a month. At the clinic, patients are screened for periodontal disease and their need for extraction determined. Patients in need of extractions are identified and the following day (Monday morning), patients are transported to the UMKC Dental School for a dental examination, x-rays, and extractions provided at no cost to the patient. After the extractions, patients are provided with antibiotics if needed and analgesics, also at no cost to the patient.
Patient Assistance Program:
The Patient Assistance Program began at a time when Sojourner Clinic needed to implement cost saving methods in order to continue the clinic and patient care. We started this program to provide our patients medications at no charge to our patients or the clinic with the help of Merck & Co. pharmaceuticals. We currently offer 3 inhalers (Asmanex, Dulera, & Proventil) according to our patients’ greatest need and have saved our clinic $28,120 (as of September 2017). Volunteers assist in maintaining program organization and updating paperwork while ensuring patients are receiving their medications. In order to be involved, students need to be trained for the program and can include anyone eligible for volunteering at Sojourner Health Clinic. Please contact PAP Director Priyesha Bijlani if interested.
Occupational Therapy:
More information on our Occupational Therapy program from Rockhurst University to come!
Help A Life Organization:
HALO is a UMKC, student-run, non-profit organization that is committed to promoting community service. Our mission is to prepare healthy meals for the Sojourner Health Clinic and provide surplus food and donations to other non-profit institutions around Kansas City. Our growing organization works towards raising awareness of food wastage and finding a solution for it. Anyone can sign up to volunteer with HALO.