Clinic with a Heart, a Lincoln nonprofit, has opened a new healthcare facility near the State Capitol to provide free medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health services to uninsured and underinsured residents. According to Executive Director Nancy Johner, the organization serves approximately 3,300 patients annually using a staff of volunteer medical providers.
Clinical Operations and Urgent Need Care
The facility, located at South 13th Street and D Street, operates on a specific schedule to manage patient flow. The clinic is open Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, with operations beginning at 4:30 p.m. Unlike traditional urgent care centers, the organization functions as an urgent need resource.
“So we’re an urgent need clinic,” Johner said. “You have an urgent need, you call us, you make an appointment, you don’t have insurance, you don’t have a lot of money to pay for a visit, you call us and we can see you.”
Patients are limited to three visits per year. Because the clinic is designed to address immediate health struggles rather than serve as a primary medical home, Johner noted that a core goal of the organization is to assist patients in transitioning to a permanent healthcare provider.
Did you know?
Clinic with a Heart relies on a rotating schedule of volunteer doctors and nurses who donate their time roughly once per month to keep services accessible to the community.
Partnerships in Dental and Specialty Care
The clinic’s capacity to offer diverse services is largely supported by external partnerships. The dental program operates through a collaboration with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where services are performed by students under the supervision of two licensed dentists.
For patients like Anthony Chavez, these services provide a bridge during financial hardship. Chavez, a first-time patient at the clinic, stated that the ability to get diagnosed and treated without the burden of high costs allowed him to return to work quickly. “It helps a lot with our bank account and just things that, you know, if we’re going through an everyday type of struggle, we can rely on somebody to look out for us as well,” Chavez said.
Beyond general and dental care, the clinic offers specialty services including:
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Podiatry
- Vision services
- Pain management
During the summer months—specifically June through August—the clinic expands its offerings to include physicals for students.
Accessing Services at the New Facility
The clinic does not currently offer online scheduling. Patients seeking care must call (402) 421-2924 to request an appointment. The facility is situated a few blocks south of the State Capitol, making it centrally located for residents in the downtown Lincoln area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for care at Clinic with a Heart?
The clinic serves individuals who are uninsured or underinsured and have an urgent medical, dental, or vision need.
Can I walk in without an appointment?
Online booking is not available.
How many times can I visit the clinic?
Patients are permitted to visit the clinic up to three times per year.
Does the clinic provide long-term primary care?
Staff work with patients to help them eventually transition to a permanent medical home.
You can reach out to Clinic with a Heart directly at (402) 421-2924. To stay updated on local health resources and community news, subscribe to our daily digest.
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