Health Clinic Plans to Close its Doors
The Lyon-Martin Health Services Clinic has announced it will close its doors after serving the city of San Francisco for 30 years.
The board of directors voted to close the clinic this Thursday, but Dawn Harbatkin, the clinic’s medical director and interim executive director, is working with the board to create a closure plan to “ensure that the clinic’s patients can safely and smoothly transfer care to other appropriate providers.”
The facility provided care to almost 2,500 patients in 2010. The independent community clinic provided care to both women and transgender people.
“This is truly a sad day for San Francisco. We are losing an independent community clinic that made comprehensive health services available to many people that may otherwise have nowhere else to turn,” said Lyon-Martin’s Board President, Lauren Winter.
Lyon-Martin needs to raise at least $250,000 to reduce immediate debts and be able to continue providing healthcare to its patients. Should that happen, officials said they might be able to reorganize rather than close.
Lyon-Martin is holding a fundraising event on Sunday, January 30th and is also accepting donations and pledges.
Click here for the clinic’s website.
Photo Credit: By Stethoscopes, via Wikimedia Commons
