By Jarrod Thacker

A ribbon cutting ceremony last Wednesday marked the grand opening of the Samaritan’s Touch UK Student Physical Therapy Clinic.

The clinic was opened at the UK HealthCare Good Samaritan Physical Therapy Center since Jan. 11 and provides free physical therapy treatment for local patients from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

It is a joint effort of the students and faculty of the College of Health Sciences, Division of Health Therapy and UK HealthCare Good Samaritan.

Lynn English, director of the program, became involved when asked to collaborate at a long-standing, student-run medical clinic at the Salvation Army in 2001. The UK Student Physical Therapy Clinic provided services at this location one night a week until late 2010.

While English expresses gratitude toward the Salvation Army for its assistance, she emphasizes the need for larger facilities.

“We operated literally in half an office, or the corner of a conference room, with very little equipment and almost no privacy,” English said. “(Our need for expansion) was a matter of space, being able to see more clients and involve more students.”

Volunteer Jennifer McKellar, a physical therapy doctorate student, said it is much easier to see “more patients, and to devote more time to them,” with the new workspace.

Even under those conditions, the clinic was able to provide many services for its patients.

English said most clients who they examine “have issues with muscular skeletal systems, repetitive use (damage), injuries and post surgeries.”

The location move was initiated from comments made by a recent graduate and participant of the program, Mark Neal, in an exit course survey.

Inspired by Neal’s comments, English took steps to secure the relocation and revamp the program during a sabbatical.

“We’re seeing people that have $50 co-pays that cannot afford to come twice a week,” Neal,  who is now an outpatient physical therapist, said. “Those are the kind of people who will filter into this program, and not just people that don’t have insurance; it’s a lot more people that are going to be affected.”

Neal will continue to work with the program and assist in instructing students in the future.

Currently, 19 students are organizing and running the clinic. Of these, four act as coordinators who hold supervisory responsibilities.

Each night, there are three student physical therapists, one coordinator and a faculty member.

Students are rewarded not only with work experience, but also with course credits. An elective class is in place that allows volunteers to obtain credits while they attend classes “concerning care of the underserved, social determinants of health, social justice issues and health care in general,” English said.

“I wanted to provide a service learning opportunity for students, and more clinical time,” English said. “I have also always wanted to find a way to serve and kind of demonstrate some of the core values of our profession including altruism and social responsibility.”

The severed ribbon signifies the reimagining of the Samaritan’s Touch UK Student Physical Therapy Clinic.

Therapy patients interested in receiving assistance should call 859-218-0544 during standard business hours to schedule an appointment.