Care for All

On any given day, the Athens Wellness Clinic is a flurry of activity. Over the sounds of the phone ringing and keyboards clacking away, nurses and interns can be heard treating patients. 

“Like I’ve always said, this is a football team,” Annabella Wilson, office coordinator of the Athens Wellness Clinic, said. 

The Athens Wellness Clinic, formerly known as the Athens Nurses Clinic, is a nurse-led clinic that provides free healthcare to uninsured individuals in Northeast Georgia. They offer psychiatric care, dental services, hepatitis C testing, mammograms and prescriptions. 

“I think we are the most comprehensive [free clinic],” Stephanie Witt, a registered nurse and executive director of the Athens Wellness Clinic, said. 

Located above the Athens Resource Center for Hope, patients are greeted by office secretary, Sharon McArthur. McArthur explains to each new patient how they can qualify for care. 

“If you don’t have any insurance and you meet our income guidelines, then you can become a patient,” McArthur said. 

There is an atmosphere inside the clinic that makes it feel like more than an average clinic. Laughter and conversation can be heard from every examination room. Staff members warmly greet patients they pass in the hall. Healthcare here feels personalized and compassionate. Returning patients converse with their nurses and providers, catching each other up on their personal lives. 

The clinic isn’t large. With a staff of less than 30, it is challenging to meet the demand of the uninsured in Athens-Clarke County. As of 2023, 15.7% of individuals aged 18 and above in the county were uninsured. That is nearly 6,000 residents. Currently, due to staffing and funding constraints, the clinic is only open twice a week for a limited number of hours. 

Like the nurses at Piedmont Athens Regional, the clinic is concerned about the effects of Medicare and Medicaid cuts. According to Stephanie Witt, over 200,000 Georgia citizens will be removed from Medicaid in the coming year. 

It's not just patients who are affected by these cuts; the industry as a whole is, too. 

As executive director of the clinic, Witt manages funding and grants that support its operations. After nearly 20 years in the healthcare industry, Witt is troubled about the increasing corporatization of healthcare. 

“This more corporate model, where profits, I think, are valued more than patient care and the quality of care that’s being given to patients. I think it’s dangerous and it's going to be hard to work in systems like that,” Witt said. 

 Listen below to hear more about the Athens Wellness Clinic

For the Love of the Job

Most people don’t look forward to being in a hospital. In fact, they probably avoid it as much as possible. But, for the nearly 5 million nurses in the United States, it's a little different. Nurses in colorful scrubs light up the halls of Piedmont Athens Regional with smiles and a certain air of comfort that makes patients and visitors feel at ease. 

“I feel like nurses are there to take care of the whole patient, not just the symptoms that are presented,” said registered nurse Dana Froetschel. 

This mentality of providing personal care is shared among nurses across the country, who pride themselves on supporting patients alongside their medical care. 

For registered nurse Melissa Hessenthaler, her duty as a nurse feels like a calling. After her mother suffered from a stroke and needed round-the-clock care, Hessenthaler felt drawn to the profession. With encouragement from her husband and her mother’s hospice nurses, Hessenthaler left her 20-year career in communications and enrolled in nursing school.

Stephanie Witt, a registered nurse, enrolled in nursing school after questioning her decision to pursue an engineering degree. 

“While I was capable of a lot of the work, I didn’t really feel a big connection with the community,” Witt said. “And once I was in nursing school, I realized that I actually liked caring for all sorts of people,” she said. 

Walking through the halls of Piedmont Athens Regional and the Athens Wellness clinic, this dedication to care is evident. Nurses can recall more than just their patients’ names. They remember the names of family members, interests and dislikes, making it obvious they care. 

Even for those still considering the job, care is their number one priority. 

Kaitlynn Hamlette, a pre-nursing student at the University of Georgia, voiced her concerns about becoming a nurse in today's climate. Hamlette is concerned about burnout, underpayment, and overwork. Yet, despite the harsh working conditions nurses face, they return day after day to care for their patients. 

“I think it's really just giving back,” Hamlette said when asked why she is pursuing nursing as a career. 

“I really like the idea of being there for someone when they are at their lowest,” she said. 

Inspired by her mother, a teacher, Hamlette knows she wants to pursue a career that serves others. 

Nursing is not easy. Every day, millions of registered nurses show up for their patients, ready to face whatever odds come their way. Ask any nurse why they still do it, and it is clear they do it for the love of the job and their patients. 

“I just love being a nurse,” said Dana Froetschel.