Jamestown Healing Clinic medical mobile unit coming to Clallam Bay

February 29, 2024 1:30 am
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s mobile medical unit will start traveling to Clallam Bay on March 4 to offer medication-assisted treatment and wrap-around services, such as counseling to those afflicted with opioid use disorder. It’ll be at the Clallam Bay Fire Station from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s mobile medical unit will start traveling to Clallam Bay on March 4 to offer medication-assisted treatment and wrap-around services, such as counseling to those afflicted with opioid use disorder. It’ll be at the Clallam Bay Fire Station from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

By Mathew Nash

Olympic Peninsula News Group

Grant funding has allowed for Jamestown Healing Clinic’s leaders to implement a long-range plan sooner than expected to bring opioid use disorder treatment options to the West End.

Starting Monday, March 4, a retrofitted RV, or mobile medication unit, will travel from Sequim to Clallam County Fire District 5’s fire station at 60 Eagle Crest Way in Clallam Bay. It opens 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday for assessments and various medical services.

Molly Martin, executive director of the Healing Clinic at 526 S. Ninth Ave. in Sequim, said they recommend prospective patients call in advance 360-681-7755 and set up an assessment in either Clallam Bay or Sequim because assessments can take several hours.

The Healing Clinic opened July 6, 2022, and sees about 160 patients a week for opioid use disorder treatment, who may receive doses of methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), along with counseling, primary care, dental care and other health services.

Martin said they hear frequently about the level of unmet need in the Clallam Bay area and that they’ve consistently gotten calls from prospective patients and family members in the West End since the Healing Clinic opened in July 2022.

Jamestown received $1.6 million from the Washington State Healthcare Authority to develop a mobile medication unit.

Tentatively, the unit will set up next to one of the fire station’s bays, so that patients can relax.

Martin said they plan to stagger patient arrival times, but noted “it’s important to take people when they’re ready to receive care.”

Since the mobile unit is a tribe-owned service, tribal members get priority care. The mobile unit will be staffed by nurses, a substance use counselor, a medical provider (a physician’s assistant, physician or nurse practitioner), and a driver/security guard.

Last year, Clallam County experienced 28 confirmed overdose deaths, and 14 suspected overdoses where toxicology or autopsy results are still pending but overdose is likely, reports Dr. Allison Berry, health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties.

For more about the Jamestown Healing Clinic and its medical mobile unit, visit jamestownhealingclinic.org or call 360-681-7755.

Story excerpted from Sequim Gazette. Full story at www.sequimgazette.com/news/mobile-healing-clinic-to-start-in-clallam-bay-march-4/