Clinic Offers To Treat Serious Cases To Ease Emergency Room Overload

While most hospitals are preparing for a surge of coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, one medical and dental clinic in Oklahoma City reports their building is nearly empty of any patients.

Good Shepherd runs off donations and is not treating COVID-19 patients.

However, they are urging those with serious medical needs to come see them, to try and keep less critical cases out of the emergency rooms.

Monday, staff said they only had one patient scheduled for the morning.

They are not providing routine care, rather dental procedures that should not wait, and required lab work.

“Every time I write up a note, I am writing down, ‘It was hurting me over the weekend. It was hurting at night. I tried this, I tried this, nothing helped,” said doctor Jannie Bath. 

Good Shepard focuses on those with limited income as a charitable clinic.

You’re asked to always call before showing up, appointments need to be booked in advance.

But because the phones have stopped ringing almost altogether, the clinic wanted to remind patients, that they are still open.

It’s not typical for Good Shepherd to see this kind of drop-off in patients, and they know Oklahomans are still having dental emergencies.

“We were seeing about 250 patients a month. It’s typically 3 patients a day when we have been here,” said Bath.

While patient numbers are down, prescriptions at the facility are up, even setting some records, according to administrators.

They will have a medical clinic open Tuesday for those who need lab work.

They even offer telehealth for those who can’t get to the clinic. But again, want to emphasize, these are for serious cases.

“Again, not a cleaning...don’t get a cleaning. Don’t get a filling right now,” said Bath.

If you need help, please call 405-232-8631 before going to the office.