Free clinic still serving the community during pandemic


Sara thought she was just getting back on her feet after her workplace closed due to the Woolsey fire over a year ago. But now, due to COVID-19, she is financially in trouble again as she waits for businesses to reopen in Thousand Oaks so that she can get back to work.

Sara also worries about caring for her children, who are at home instead of at school; providing food for her family, and paying the rent.

She also fears getting sick and not having health insurance.

Sara is like many other low-wage hourly workers in Ventura County who have lost their hospitality and service jobs due to the pandemic and are scrambling to make ends meet.

For such workers, support is available from Westminster Free Clinic.

Even before the shelter-in-place and social distancing orders were issued, Westminster Clinic adapted its service-delivery model to continue providing health, dental and mental health services to the community, while practicing infection control and social distancing requirements.

Since the pandemic began, Westminster Free Clinic started offering telemedicine for existing patients needing medication refills to manage their diabetes, high blood pressure or other chronic health issues.

In-person medical visits are also offered weekly on a limited basis to new and existing patients.

New uninsured patients receive an initial in-person health assessment during which an electronic health record is set up. Services are possible due to volunteer medical providers.

“The number of people seeking care who have lost their jobs and health insurance keeps growing,” said Lisa Safaeinili, Westminster Free Clinic’s executive director. “Since the start of the pandemic, new patients are coming weekly to WFC seeking help.”

Over 750 people received healthcare services in the past two months; the majority are women. Because of a volunteer dentist, emergency dental services are still provided.

In the past two months, 360 people have received mental health services to help families cope with the anxiety and depression they are facing as they worry about getting COVID-19, helping their children, and finances.

The clinic has also ramped up its food distribution efforts. Fresh fruits, vegetables and basic staple foods including rice and beans are distributed weekly to over 250 families.

The demand for food has increased from 285 families/1,245 individuals in March to 936 families/4,064 individuals in April seeking food assistant at the clinic.

For more information, call the Westminster Clinic at (805) 241- 8366 or go to westminsterclinic.org.