Fort Wayne, Ind. — Easterseals Arc of Northeast Indiana has been awarded a grant of $30,000 from the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation to support the agency’s on-site health clinic.
Easterseals Arc first opened the clinic designed and equipped to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in 2016. After a temporary closure due to difficulties in retaining a staff nurse practitioner, the clinic was re-opened in February 2022 with Rounding Providers contracted to provide medical professionals to staff the clinic.
The grant funding will help ensure people with disabilities served by Easterseals Arc have access to high quality medical and psychiatric care in a welcoming environment. Clinic staff, led by a nurse practitioner, are able to:
- Provide on-site exams and physicals
- Diagnose and treat illnesses and chronic conditions
- Order and interpret diagnostic tests such as EKGs, lab work, and x-rays
- Prescribe medications
- Administer COVID tests and vaccinations
- Manage individuals’ overall health care
- Educate individuals and caregivers on disease prevention and healthy life choices
“As we strive to help our consumers live their best lives, we know supporting their overall health and well-being builds a foundation for success in every area of their lives from employment to recreation,” said Donna K. Elbrecht, Easterseals Arc CEO. “This clinic gives the people we support increased access to care they need, when they need it, in a place where they are comfortable.”
The clinic is located in Easterseals Arc’s primary facility at 4919 Coldwater Road in Fort Wayne; however, any individual served by Easterseals Arc, Easterseals Passages or Easterseals RISE can use the clinic.