Nikki White, executive director of Health Care Access, is pictured in front of the clinic, 330 Maine, in 2009.

A clinic that provides medical care for uninsured Douglas County residents is in critical need of space and the community’s help.

Health Care Access is seeing a growing number of patients in a space at 1920 Moodie Road that’s already too small.

Last year, it served 1,703 patients, an 11 percent increase from 2007, and provided $4 million worth of care.

The wait for scheduled appointments has grown from five weeks in January to nine weeks today.

“It is the highest ever that I’ve witnessed in my 10 years here,” said Nikki King, executive director. “Walk-in appointments are first-come, first-serve in the morning and those are booked within the first five minutes of being open every morning.”

The 3,200 square feet of space has only five examination rooms. Storage and places for its eight employees and 20 on-site volunteers to work are very limited.

Dr. Marc Scarbrough, a hospitalist at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, has treated patients at the clinic for about three years.

“The doctors don’t even have a real space. They put a little partition in the hallway, and we have a little card table,” he said.

He said more room would allow them to see more patients.

“If we had a bigger space that was a little more efficient, I think we could provide better care for more patients,” Scarbrough said.

Health Care Access has been pursuing a new location since fall 2007. It received a $96,000 state grant in September to serve as a catalyst for the project. The grant must be matched and spent by June 30 in actual dollars or in-kind support.

King said the clinic had looked at about 20 locations, including space inside the Community Health Facility, 200 Maine, but nothing had panned out until recently.

The clinic now has its eyes on a 3,700-square-foot building at 330 Maine, which is across the street from Lawrence Memorial Hospital. The brick building formerly housed clinics for a podiatrist and dentist. King said the building would require only some minor modifications and would allow them to add three or four examination rooms.

The location also is ideal for several reasons.

It is located near the hospital, which often provides X-rays and lab work for patients. It also is close to Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center and Douglas County Dental Clinic, all of which provide health services for low-income residents.

The building is along a bus system route and closer to where a majority of the clinic’s clients reside.

“It not only brings us close to more of our constituents, but also close to potential volunteers that are in that medical corridor,” King said. “I think it just brings us to a more visible location — both for patients and volunteers so we can see more people.”

Dr. Scarbrough agrees. He said the location would be ideal for doctors.

“I think a lot more of the docs just probably would be more willing to help and volunteer more,” he said.

It also would be convenient.

“We’ve had several times where we’ve had to admit patients to the hospital and it’s closer to the ED (emergency department),” Scarbrough said.

To make the relocation happen, Health Care Access needs funding. So far, it has raised $20,000. That leaves another $76,000 to match the state grant by June 30.

King remains positive and hopeful.

“We have some very promising leads on match money,” she said. “I am very optimistic.”

Health Care Access also plans to purchase the building before moving in. It currently pays the city of Lawrence $1 a year for its location. While King wouldn’t disclose the cost of the building at 330 Maine, she said the board doesn’t want to move in without paying the cost upfront.

“The board does not want to go in debt to purchase the property,” she said.

So, Health Care Access has until June 30 to match the state grant. This can be done through money or in-kind contributions such as carpentry, plumbing or electrical work. The clinic has until July 10 to come up with the rest of the funds to pay for the building.

If you would like to help or make a donation, call the clinic at 841-5760.