This important event offers a crucial opportunity for Englewood and North Port area families to prevent drug misuse and contribute to public safety. For more information, please visit the HCA Florida Englewood Hospital Facebook page.

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Located at 6868 San Casa Drive in the Mac V. Horton West County Annex building, the clinic serves residents of Charlotte and Sarasota counties aged 18 to 64. To qualify, patients must be uninsured, and not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid.

Open Monday and Thursday evenings, the clinic operates on a walk‑in basis. Evening hours typically start at 5 p.m., with patients encouraged to arrive as early as 4 p.m. to complete paperwork. In 2024, the clinic expanded to include bi‑monthly dental services—offering emergency dental exams, X-rays, and extractions—for eligible uninsured adults through a partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County.

Formed in 2011 and federally registered as a 501(c)(3), the clinic is led by Executive Director Beth Harrison and Laboratory Director Deborah Jeffes, RN. Its volunteer force includes more than 50 licensed professionals—doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants—and administrative staff. Among the volunteer team are physicians, including Raymond A. James, DO; Heather Cappello, MD; Sailendra Upendram, MD; and APRNs Jennifer Jones and Cheryl Stewart.

The clinic’s goal is to address healthcare gaps: close to one in four residents lack health insurance, and without such voluntary care, many would rely on costlier emergency services.

Since reopening with telehealth in August 2020, the clinic has adopted a hybrid model. Telehealth visits were introduced in response to the pandemic as a way to maintain patient access while ensuring safety. Today, both onsite and remote care options are available based on patient needs.

“We want to improve the quality of life for low‑income residents in the Englewood area by providing access to quality health care in a caring environment,” states the clinic’s mission.

Services provided include:

• Episodic primary care: diagnosis, treatment, follow-up
• Limited in‑clinic lab and diagnostic services
• Medication assistance via patient assistance programs
  Emergency dental care for uninsured residents of Charlotte County.

Please note that the Englewood Community Care Clinic does not offer urgent or emergency care, nor does it give flu shots or routine immunizations.  Other services NOT offered include chronic pain medication prescriptions, disability determination exams, HIV or STD diagnosis or treatment, pregnancy testing or pregnancy-related problems, as well as school or sports physicals.

Governance is provided by a volunteer board chaired by Dr. Raymond James and including professionals from varied backgrounds, such as Jeffes, Harrison, Joni Hyde, and Bob Melvin. Fiscal accountability is maintained through state-level reporting, ensuring transparency in funding and charitable activity.

Despite the lack of recurring state or federal funds, the organization successfully raised approximately $4,226 during the 2024 Sarasota County Giving Challenge. Its annual fundraising goal approaches $250,000, which covers lab tests, medications, facility costs, and administrative fees.

How to Donate
Supporters can contribute in several ways:
Online Donations: Through the clinic’s website, with all donations eligible for tax deduction.
Checks: Payable to Englewood Community Care Clinic, Inc., mailed to P.O. Box 189, Englewood, FL 34295.
In-Kind Gifts: Items from the clinic’s wish list, with receipts provided upon request.
Honor/Memorial Gifts: Special contributions with options to notify designated recipients.
Alternative Channels: Donating cash, stock, ETFs, or cryptocurrency via the donor-advised Daffy Charitable Fund platform.

Businesses, congregations, and foundations interested in sponsoring or matching gifts are encouraged to reach out directly to Executive Director Beth Harrison at 941‑681‑2081 or via email at englewoodcommunitycareclinic@gmail.com.

CONTACT: Main line at 941‑681‑2081; email: englewoodcommunitycareclinic@gmail.com. The clinic does not provide urgent or emergent care, immunizations, chronic pain prescriptions, pregnancy testing, or sports physicals.

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With the addition, four of the department’s six frontline fire apparatus are now ALS-certified. These units are staffed with firefighter/paramedics and equipped with advanced medications, cardiac monitoring technology, and life-saving tools designed to treat severe medical and trauma emergencies before patients reach the hospital.

The upgrade is part of a broader initiative to strengthen emergency medical services in response to Englewood’s growth. Officials say expanding ALS coverage improves response times, increases access to advanced pre-hospital care, and supports better patient outcomes across the community.

The move underscores the department’s focus on prioritizing community service and enhancing resources to meet evolving public safety needs.

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