Local clinic provides free health care

Central clinic serves residents

Noa Grossman

Erin Wells

At a walking distance from the high school, Central Clinic is a free, walk-in clinic for children from birth to 18, who live or go to school in St. Louis Park or Hopkins school districts.

According the clinic manager, Mitch Callahan, Central Clinic offers a wide range of services.

“We provide a lot of immunizations, well child checkups, sports physicals, acute so like if you have a sore throat, cough, fever, and sexual health,” Callahan said.

Freshman Alex Peterson said he believes the clinic is beneficial to those who can’t afford a                                                               traditional hospital.

“It’s good that they have the clinic because if people can’t afford to go to a hospital, then they have a place to go that’s relatively cheaper and closer,” Peterson said.

The clinic’s goal is to offer care to anyone and help the community during health crises.

“We want to provide care to members of the community, the school and we want to be available during any health care crisis for example when the freshmen Carly passed away from the influenza, we provided a influenza vaccine clinic at the high school,” Callahan said.

According to Callahan, the clinic meets with the high school regularly to address any uprising issues and gather helpful information on how to let people know they are around.

“We’re part of the Central Clinic Advisory Board that meets at the high school  quarterly and we have students that sit on the board, they attend and we get their input on anything that might be at issue with them, but also with marketing, and all of those services and a way to get the message out that we’re here,” Callahan said.

According to Callahan, anyone is welcomed to take advantage of Central Clinic’s various services.

“It shouldn’t be an issue for anybody to come in here and get help for no matter what the issue is. We’re welcoming, that’s what we do and that’s what we’re here for,” Callahan said.

Central clinic is open on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon from 1-4:30 throughout the school year and typically open back up again the last week of July to start providing some sport physicals.