Meeting the Needs of DeSoto County
Trinity Health Center in Horn Lake, Mississippi, is the healthcare pillar of the DeSoto County Dream Center, a community resource providing a “hand-up” to the underserved of the area. Dream Center addresses the challenges faced by 12,000 children and families struggling with poverty by providing food, education, clothing, and healthcare.
Trinity Health Center’s mission is to offer high-quality, cost-effective primary healthcare to the working uninsured. Since its establishment in 2021, Trinity Health Center has worked collaboratively with partners to promote wellness and wholeness in the community. The clinic provides medical services and empowers patients through education in self-care and healthy lifestyles.
Empowering Patients with New Technology
Trinity Health Center’s commitment to providing excellent care has been further strengthened by its selection for a grant from Heart to Heart International (HHI), BD, Henry Schein Cares, and the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics. The clinic was one of nine to receive a point-of-care laboratory installation in 2024. This new resource allows the clinic to perform a range of essential tests on-site, including hemoglobin A1c, lipid panels, and rapid testing for Strep A, Influenza, and SARS-CoV-2. HHI provided comprehensive training to clinic staff and volunteers to ensure effective use of the new equipment.
The Difference On-Site Testing Makes
The impact of the point-of-care lab install is significant. The clinic is now able to diagnose and begin treatment for patients in a single visit.
For example, a new diabetic patient was able to receive a diagnosis and begin a treatment plan during their initial clinic visit. The clinic also assisted a patient new to the area, and while the patient was not there for diabetes, the on-site A1c testing revealed a critical result of 14%. The patient’s family member was present and able to help explain the result. Because the patient had been on metformin in the past, the clinic was able to restart the medication and create a treatment plan.
In another case, a current patient being seen for frequent yeast infections was tested for diabetes using the new A1c testing capability and was found to have an A1c above 11%. This information was critical for proper treatment and patient education.
Additional examples of the clinic’s use of the point-of-care testing include adjusting a gentleman’s metformin prescription, confirming that a patient’s A1c was under control after weight loss, and providing services, including testing and referral, for a 12-year-old patient new to the area with a history of diabetes.
The ability to provide rapid results and initiate immediate treatment has transformed the way Trinity Health Center delivers care, leading to better patient outcomes and increased efficiency. HHI is committed to providing support to the clinic for the first year of their grant to ensure the continued success of this program.