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Jennifer Jenkins, PA-C
Family Medicine | The MERCI Clinic | Craven County
1. What is a quote that has had a significant influence on your life, and why?
“The Blind see, the Lame Walk, Lepers are cleansed, the Deaf hear, and the Dead are raised to Life.” – Jesus | Gospel of Luke 7:22
This was the response He gave John’s disciples when asked if He was the One they had been waiting for. Of all His ministry, He identified healing as confirmation of His identity. To pursue a medical career in this context, is a high calling and should be undertaken with humble virtue.
2. Where are you from originally?
I was Born and raised in California.
3. How did you decide to become a physician?
The word “Physician” derives from a term for nature and growth; a Physician is one who practices the natural art and science of healing. The root of “Doctor” is Teacher. The joy of a career in Medicine is in the application of Art, Science and Teaching. To use this career in the service of others, satisfies my spirit. I knew innately from an early age, that Medicine would be my chosen field.
4. What do you like about practicing in an underserved area?
Practicing in a non-profit setting gives the opportunity to care for patients that don’t have access to regular medical care. Our clinic provides high quality treatment for physical, mental and social conditions, and providers are able to give supportive, non-judgmental care. In the underserved non-citizen patients, I have grown and learned to appreciate other cultures. Our patients are truly grateful for the services and care we provide, and that is most gratifying.
5. Is your practice using any tools to address social determinates of health for patients?
Our practice uses inventory questionnaires and detailed histories to assess mental and social concerns, living conditions, income, education and access to food and transportation. A thorough review both in the eligibility phase and new patient intakes, helps us identify areas of need and potentially harmful or abusive factors.
Patient intakes also give us the opportunity to identify limitations in literacy and language. We provide in-house interpreters and also involve family members that are bilingual.
We have a free dental clinic on site that offers care such as cleanings, x-rays and extractions. We interface with outside facilities if there is a need for complicated care.
Our patients that need mental health services can obtain walk-in care at a clinic adjacent to ours, and some local churches provide counselling and 12-step programs.
We have access and good communication with local community agencies that provide Domestic Violence shelters, food and housing assistance.
We are participants with the ECU Medical School on a Diabetic nutrition program, with demonstrations of meal preparation and complimentary groceries; patient’s families are encouraged to attend.
On a limited basis we are able to offer food vouchers from local restaurants, as well as gas vouchers.
We also refer patients to yearly Dental and Vision mobile services that serve the community.
6. How has Medicaid Transformation/Expansion affected your practice?
. Medicaid expansion has severely impacted our clinic and we have lost about 50% of our patients over the last 6 months. We are projected to lose more as patients’ eligibility status renews. The majority of patients would like to remain with the clinic but don’t have the option to decline Medicaid insurance. There is a real possibility that we may not be able to remain open; if so, our community will have lost a valuable resource, and patients will again be without accessible health care. We have local community and hospital, support and are actively recruiting patients.
I enjoy golf, reading and piano after-hours, as well as daily dog walks; I regularly attend and participate in programs at a local church congregation.
8. Is there anything that CPP can do to help you and your practice?
Knowledge of our facility's existence is the main need. I am surprised by the number of local health providers and agencies that don’t know of our clinic and the services we offer. Advertising and spreading the word are imperative to remain open.
Our medical director is regularly interfacing with community health and service organizations that serve as referral sources, as well as restaurants, churches and libraries. We have local business and hospital (CEMC) support in addition to for-profit clinics and physicians that offer pro bono services.
We have been actively recruiting new patients since learning of the Medicaid Expansion implementation last year.
Thank you for the opportunity to share the Merci Clinic mission and needs.
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