In a time when health care solutions are hard to come by, Crossroads Clinic, formerly known as Volunteers in Medicine Lake Saint Louis, is meeting some of those needs.Anyone between the ages of 18 and 64, who live in western St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren or Montgomery counties and has no medical coverage, may be eligible to receive care from the 65 volunteers who staff the clinic every Tuesday and Thursday at the facility located at 10714 Veterans Memorial Parkway in Lake Saint Louis.“I want Warren County to know we are here and fairly close to home,” said Cheryl Moellenhoff, RN, who provides clinical oversight to the clinic. “This can become your medical home.”The clinic opened in 2010 and was the dream of Dr. Maimuna Baig. She wanted to give back to the community that had been so generous to her. Baig serves as the medical director of the clinic and as a member of its board of directors. Its theme is “Neighbors Caring for Neighbors.”Moellenhoff said there is a simple application process to become a patient at the clinic. Those eligible must fall at 200 percent less than the federal poverty guideline, have no medical insurance, including disability, Medicaid or Medicare. She said many social workers at each nearby hospital facility are aware of the clinic and can also provide a referral to the clinic.The clinic is supported entirely by private donations, including help from area Rotary clubs, church organizations and local fundraising efforts. It is a 501c(3) tax-exempt organization. Its annual fundraiser will occur Friday, Feb. 9.Physicians, registered nurses, pharmacists and physical therapists join together with nonmedical volunteers to meet the needs of patients at Crossroads Clinic. Many of the volunteers are retired teachers, engineers and housewives. Three physicians staff the clinic.“Come and shadow for a day and let us know if this is something you want to do,” said Moellenhoff. “We always need volunteers.”Dr. Peter Montgomery, whose medical office is located in Wentzville, encourages more physicians to become involved. Montgomery said when medical students write their essays in school explaining why they chose medicine, “everyone mentions giving back to the poor.” He said there are few who follow through on that commitment.“I’m doing it because I like it,” he said. “Even though the standards of medical practice are upheld, I feel like I can be more creative here. It’s a great cure for physician’s burnout. This is a vacation for me.”Montgomery said most of the patients are not looking for a handout, but are hard-working people looking for assistance. Some patients are homeless. More than 80 percent are repeat patients.Services the clinic provides include office visits, referrals for further testing, referrals to specialists and physical exams. The clinic also helps patients receive the medicines they require, excluding controlled substances.A Valentine dinner/dance and silent auction will be held Friday, Feb. 9, at the Christy Banquet Center in O’Fallon. Tickets are $50, which includes dinner and an open bar. Moellenhoff said the goal this year is $35,000. To purchase tickets, call 314-650-6131.For more information about the clinic, visit crossroadsclinicvim.org or call 636-561-3133. Office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

More than 65 volunteers staff Crossroads Clinic in Lake Saint Louis. The clinic serves patients with no medical insurance who live in St. Charles, Warren, Lincoln and Montgomery counties. Pictured, from left, are volunteers Tony Stack, medical student, Leslie Seley, Nancy Hebert, Debbie Heidari, Cheryl Moellenhoff and Dr. Peter Montgomery, president of the board of directors.

Record Photo/Cindy Gladden