Set to open in August 2024, Aslan Health Clinic will focus on addressing the specific needs of the working poor. It will offer services to those with Medicaid and Medicare, as well as those uninsured or underinsured, with a reasonable cash-based fee schedule. Through a financial assistance program, Aslan Health aims to provide affordable healthcare, ensuring that no one is turned away due to financial constraints. The clinic has a unique approach to overcoming the barriers that so many individuals face — cost of care, inflexible working hours, unreliable transportation, and childcare issues. With extended and weekend hours, Aslan Health will provide accessible healthcare when it is needed most.
“The idea for Aslan Health Clinic originated from a TED talk delivered by PJ Parmar titled "How doctors can help low-income patients (and still make a profit),” shared Executive Director Clay White. “This thought-provoking talk sparked our interest as we sought a shared mission that would allow us to serve the Lord while leveraging our individual skills and strengths.”
Aslan Health Clinic is located across from the Great River Regional Library, providing convenient access to public transportation in the heart of St. Cloud. The location buildout will serve as both a medical and dental clinic opening this summer.
Clay & Rebecca White are the brains behind the clinic and have been invested in the Central MN communities for years. Clay is originally from Central Minnesota, and after graduating from New London Spicer, he joined the Air Force and was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. Upon completing his enlistment, he stayed for a few more years in Alaska, eventually returning to Western Minnesota - where he met his wife Rebecca, originally from South Dakota. “We moved to St. Could in 2002 when Clay took a job as a Sherburne County Deputy, and we’ve been here ever since,” explained Rebecca.
“After watching the TED talk and earnestly praying about it, we felt a strong calling to pursue this vision. To deepen our understanding and gather insights, we reached out to PJ and arranged to visit his clinic in Colorado in July 2023. The visit proved invaluable, providing us with firsthand experience of a healthcare model aligned with our goals of serving the underserved.”
“As we embarked on the journey of establishing Aslan Health Clinic, we faced a critical decision: whether to be a for-profit or a nonprofit organization,” explained Rebecca, Aslan’s Medical Director. “We carefully considered both options, recognizing the merits of each. In the end, we turned to prayer, submitting our decision-making process to God, the true owner of Aslan Health Clinic. We believe that this decision, made through a modern version of drawing lots, was guided by His hand and is in the best interest of our mission to serve the underserved.”
“The Aslan health model is molded to the community we desire to serve. The low-income, underserved population has obstacles that inhibit access and thriving in the traditional healthcare system. Aslan Health will be an option for excellent, affordable healthcare with extended clinic hours and a Saturday option so primary care clinic issues can be managed at the clinic, not in the Urgency center or the emergency room,” said Clay. In addition to the logistics of access and affordability, the care model is non-traditional, focusing on the Whole Person Model of Healthy Living, which is equally influenced by one's faith life, movement, work, emotional well-being, nutrition, and relationships - along with their medical care.”
Clay is transitioning from his work as the Interim Executive Director of the Pregnancy Resource Center and will dedicate his time to working full-time at Aslan Health. Rebecca will share time between Aslan and her current family practice at CentraCare.
“When talking with our friends, neighbors, and the lady standing in line with me at the grocery store, almost everyone can tell a story of need – for themselves or their friend. They’re very excited about the new clinic that will help meet a need that is otherwise difficult to find. We are inspired by so many people who are stepping forward with their expertise in offering help to serve our communities,” said Rebecca. “It’s exciting to see that our community is full of people who desire to serve their community and take pride in making Greater St. Cloud a better place to live for everyone.”
“Our goal is to provide exceptional health care steeped in the love and kindness of Jesus Christ,” explained Clay. “We’re just at the beginning of working with our local partners. The Central Minnesota Health Ministry group has been a great connection piece. We’re also working with local church congregations. Health is a central point in weaving together a web of resources, and our community has many great agencies and groups motivated to help; we hope to be the spider for those in the unserved population.”
If you’re looking for ways to get involved or lift up Aslan Health Clinic, Rebecca shared a number of ways they’re turning to our communities for support. “We do not take lightly the request for others’ time. Time is your most precious nonrenewable resource, and being on the receiving side of this gift is an honor.”
- Childcare: Have you ever tried to go to an appointment in a small room with multiple children in tow? It is tough! Aslan Health will offer supervision for the children of those in an appointment. This will offer a moment of solitude for caregivers to focus on their health and be fully present and undistracted at their clinic appointments.
- Nonmedical Volunteers: If you love the idea of serving the underserved and feel drawn to help with Aslan Health's mission, we want to know. The needs are plentiful, and we haven’t even discovered them all yet. We will be building programs, spreading awareness in the community, building out the building to match clinic needs, etc.
- Medical Volunteers: Volunteering at Aslan Health is a meaningful way to share your medical expertise. We are a primary care clinic, and our medical volunteers are valuable in providing high-quality health care. We utilize Medicaid and Medicare, but no other insurances will need to be credentialed for those volunteering in a billable role. Not all care will be billable, so don’t let that be a limit-er. There are needs for nurses, dietitians, physical therapists, behavior health professionals, and specialty roles.
- Community Health Workers: Members from communities, churches, clubs, and neighborhoods motivated to help their neighbors be “healthy” are welcome. Community Health Workers (CHWs) are critical to improving individual and community health through building trust and relationships and deepening communication between patients and clinicians. CHWs have a deep understanding of their communities through lived experience, which makes them uniquely qualified to address social and behavioral determinants of health. Aslan Health will educate this group of people on the trajectory of chronic disease and how behavior changes can alter that trajectory. Community health workers will also be an integral part of tracking this health improvement to increase each community member's length and quality of life. Initially, this will be a volunteer program with plans to develop into a paid position.
“Most of all, we ask for your prayers,” shared the Whites. The power of prayer defeats great enemies, encourages the downtrodden, gives energy to the faithful, and so much more. Please add us to your general prayer list and consider being a prayer warrior for Aslan Health. Prayer warriors will receive monthly specific requests and emergency requests via text or email. We truly believe that someday, when the veil is lifted, we will see the massive number of prayer warriors holding up this world.”
Learn more about Aslan Health Clinic, their needs, and how you can get involved here.
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