For low-income Collier County residents who are working but uninsured, access to the medications they need is not as easy as going to a regular chain pharmacy to pick them up. Thats where the Neighborhood Health Clinics expanded non-narcotic medication room comes in, giving patients managing chronic conditions including hypertension and diabetes timely access to medications at no cost. The 1,850-square-foot medication room, located at the clinic on Goodlette-Frank Road near Central Avenue, was built at a cost of $500,000 and is named for the late Stacy Forman, a Naples philanthropist who donated funding for the expansion.Keith Maples, CEO of Neighborhood Health Clinic, said the expanded medications facility enhances the clinics ability to serve patients faster and more efficiently. On a typical day, a patient can walk in and when they walk out, theyre walking out with thousands of dollars worth of medication that, if it were outside of the Clinic, they would not be able to fill those prescriptions because it would be outside of what they could afford, Maples said. He said the expanded space, equipped with updated technology and increased storage capacity, allows for a larger inventory of non-narcotic medications that enables the Clinic to fill prescriptions immediately to minimize delays in treatment. In 2024, the Clinic distributed $6.5 million in retail value of medications thanks to partnerships with Americares, Direct Relief, Dispensary of Hope and other pharmaceutical companies. The expansion allows us to work even more with our pharmaceutical partners to basically procure all of the medications necessary for our patients, Maples said. He said that many patients arriving at the Clinic for the first time have not previously received medical care for the condition needing treatment and may have vastly elevated blood pressure or blood sugar levels, for example. When they walk through the doors, theyre at such a heightened level that were trying to bring it back to a controlled number to where its manageable for them, Maples said. If their A1Cs are through the roof, their [blood] sugars are through the roof, were trying to get them back to an established number that helps them feel better. Well never cure them of all those illnesses, but well maintain that health for them, so they feel better and have a better quality of life.Clinic grows to meet patient demand The nonprofit Neighborhood Health Clinic was established in 1999 by Dr. Bill and Nancy Lascheid to provide medical care to low-income, working but uninsured Collier County adults. Their daughter, Leslie Lascheid, now serves as president of the organization. In 2024 the clinic saw more than 12,000 patient visits and delivered more than 30,000 patient procedures, Maples said, with all medications, primary care, specialty care, surgeries and outpatient procedures provided free of charge to patients.All funding is through philanthropy, as the Clinic does not receive any city, county, state or federal funding including Medicaid or Medicare. Over the years the clinic has expanded as the patient load has increased. The original 11,000-square-foot facility more than doubled in size with the completion of the Armstrong Medical Specialties Building in 2021, which expanded the campus to 23,000 square feet. The addition of the Van Domelen Education and Wellness Building, also in 2021, took the total to its current 32,000 square feet, and when the Bill and Candy Raveis Pathology Building is completed this summer, the total campus will be at 43,000 square feet, according to Marcie Berland, the Clinics director of development. Maples said the Clinic has expanded strategically over the years to meet the medical needs of patients many of whom work in hospitality, service or construction industries in Collier County and the growing volume of patient visits. When weve expanded, we didnt do it just to do it, he said. We based it on what were the patient needs and what do we need in-house on a daily basis to deliver the care, providing the opportunity for a patient to walk in the door, get all the care they need and not have to go to another location somewhere else, or come for another appointment. Because when our patients miss days of work, thats food on the table and the roof over their heads. Its not like if I call in sick: I get a sick day and still get paid. He said the campus expansions allow most procedures including lab work to be done in-house, creating opportunities for sustainable, uninterrupted patient care. When that patient walks through the doors, I never want them to wonder where theyre going to get their care or how theyre getting to their next appointment, Maples said. Many of our patients get rides here, or they walk or ride their bikes, because very few own cars that they can drive in. And while the Clinic does have a full-time paid staff of 14 and five part-time staff, no medical professionals are paid to deliver care, Maples said. More than 250 physicians, 50 dentists, 100 nurses and 300 non-medical personnel deliver care and provide patient education on a volunteer basis.
