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The Neighborhood Health The expansion also allows transportation-challenged patients
Clinic assures service industry to access an array of care – and medicines -- in a single trip. That
crews they have somewhere is vital for most of the patients who arrive with multiple chronic
to turn when injured or sick, diseases, Maples explains, such as hypertension, diabetes, high
helping them feel valued and cholesterol and obesity.
continue earning – and keep Maples confides that he sees grateful patients working in
businesses open amid labor restaurants, stores and other places all over town, adding: “That’s a
shortages. big rewarding aspect of it.”
“The Neighborhood Health By the numbers
Clinic is absolutely crucial,” The Neighborhood Health Clinic annual budget of $3 million
Dalby confirms, with so many is stretched by its volunteer corps of 700, including translators and
households – even with two file clerks, compared to 15 full time paid staff members.
adults working – only one They handle 11,000 patient visits for 27,000 procedures such as
paycheck or economic challenge away from “disaster or chaos.” dental fillings and exams every year.
And, Daltry adds, the clinic goes beyond the basics, to “top Everything is achieved via private funding. their literature
notch primary care” with access to specialists as needed. time after time stresses that no government funding is sought
Another kudo comes from an official with a unique perspective, or accepted, to stay clear of red tape and allow policy such as all
Dr. Alejandro Perez-Trepichio, who is a Neighborhood Health employees must be vaccinated against COVID, Maples says.
Clinic board member, president of the Collier Medical Society
and chief medical officer of Millennium Physician Group, which
uses clinic imaging equipment for private practice as well as
Neighborhood Health Clinic patients.
The clinic, he says, is “an incredible resource for integral
healthcare” that delivers “excellent” service.
The milestone expansion, Maples says, means patients can come
for care weekdays instead of a few nights a week and Saturdays
when volunteer doctors, nurses and technicians would hold
marathon sessions after work.

HELPING tutoring and connecting them to
Providing foster children with
FOSTER early education centers, summer

and winter camps and after
CHILDREN school activities such as dance

SUCCEED classes, gymnastics, music
lessons and sport teams.

3050-B Horseshoe Drive North Suite 260 Naples, FL 34104
(239) 262-1808 | www.FriendsOfFosterChildren.net

Life in Naples | April 2022 79