CFM OPENS ITS DOORS TO AT-RISK COMMUNITY

CONCORD, N.C., September 18, 2004—On Saturday morning, October 30, driving by the Cabarrus Family Medicine – Concord building, one could see a parking lot full of cars and a line of people wrapped around the outside of the building. These people were anxiously waiting in line to receive their flu shot.

When the doors opened at 8am, 550 community members poured in, and the groups didn’t stop coming until about noon. Many people arrived at the Concord building several hours early to secure their place in line. The first person was there at midnight.

Everyone who received a shot was high risk, and most were elderly. Casey Mills, a Mt. Pleasant employee who worked at the Flu Clinic, said, “Talking to people as I would register them, I began to understand that there are some very sick people in our community.”

Recipients were relieved to finally find a place that could offer them a shot. One elderly woman said she and her husband had waited in the drive-through line the day before at the Flu Shot Clinic in Charlotte, and the line was cut-off two cars ahead of her. She was very frustrated but happy to finally be able to get a shot.

“Everyone that I helped was very appreciative of what we were doing and it made me feel good that I was taking part in their lives and trying to help them get better,” Casey said.

Many staff members were willing to help out. Karen Mann, another volunteer and a CMA in Concord, said what she thought made the event so successful was “team work and a very good organization.”

What surprised Karen the most, though, was “how smooth and organized it was, from the parking lot, all the way up to us, the nurses.” Sue Meyers, Concord clinic manager, was responsible for the majority of the planning, and different stations were set up throughout the building.

Patients received their paperwork upon arrival outside, along with a check-list of everything they needed to have on hand in order to receive a shot. Only a certain number of people were let in the building at a time in order to keep the crowd manageable.

Once they checked in at a table at the top of the stairs, patients proceeded to Conference Rooms 3 & 4 where they received refreshments and were able to comfortably wait while watching reruns of the Andy Griffith Show. “We wanted to be sure we could accommodate the elderly patients who would need a place to sit, and I think people really appreciated our thoughtfulness,” Sue said.

Then patients were called back to Room 2 to present their $20 payment or Medicare card. The shots were then administered in Room 1.

Dr. Allen Dobson was radiant with the success of the day: “I have continued to receive compliments from people who either brought patients or received the vaccine on Saturday. Doing the right thing should always feel this good!