Not all medical care comes through traditional means

By Ginna Young

Sometimes, it can be hard to get the healthcare you need. Maybe the insurance won’t cover a visit or you don’t have insurance. Maybe the destination is just too far away to make the trip.

That’s where a Choice Health pop-up clinic comes in. Choices Health is a Christian health organization for anyone who doesn’t have insurance or who doesn’t want to be in a clinic setting. Currently, the clinic operates out of Ladysmith, but a few Cornell residents saw a need, and made a pop-up clinic a reality.

Jessica Kilde, Choices Health site lead and LPN, pastors a church in Cornell, along with her husband and had several people reach out, needing help with unexpected pregnancies and sexual health issues.

“Once I brought up the possibility with others, many other examples have surfaced of others that needed this type of care, in THIS community,” said Kilde. “I spoke to the Choices director and board, and everything started steam rolling ahead.”

After approval to use resources from Choices Health and a site to hold the pop-up clinic at the Cornell Food Pantry, they knew that it could be a bigger project than originally planned. If they can raise enough money, there will be a recurring satellite clinic, with even more services available.

Medical professionals and churches have all come together for the joint effort, and even painted about half the food pantry, while prepping the space.

“At its core, this really is for our community,” said Kilde. “So, it’s been great seeing different causes come together like this, to help each other out.”

Services are free to men and women, with tests and treatment for SDT’s, pregnancy testing, limited ultrasounds, parenting classes and baby supplies, and after-abortion recovery programs, as well as postpregnancy care.

While there may be a stigma involving those who want to know about reproductive health or STDs, those at the pop-up clinic offer no judgment, only love and acceptance, while providing care, even that means simply giving someone a resource to contact.

“Because, having someone in your court during a situation like this...is priceless and life changing,” said Kilde.

Pop-up clinics happen Friday, Jan. 24, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, April 11, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m, at the Cornell Food Pantry. Registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcome.

For those who want to see a satellite clinic happen, they can give monetarily, to: Choices Health Network, 1108 Port Arthur Rd., Ladysmith, WI 54848. Or, they can sign up to volunteer or for more information, by calling 715532-7600.

It’s important to those running the clinic, that they help as many people in need as they can, all while trying to foster togetherness.

“Clearly, there is a need in our area, along with the many outlying small towns,” said Kilde. “With the sensitivity of what we do, it’s important we accept people from other areas, as well.”