Catholic Charities opened the clinic in February 2000 under the sponsorship of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis to fill the significant health care void that was evident at that time within the greater Beardstown area.

In addition, the clinic was used as a vehicle to reach out to the local Hispanic community to insure that quality health care could be available to that growing segment of the population. Father Eugene Weitzel, CSV, was a strong community advocate for making the vision of the clinic a reality.

“The Hospital Sisters came to us in 1999 — and at the time Beardstown was underserved medically. So, the Sisters were there when we first began meeting and Father Weitzel was right there with them,” said Mike Sakolsky, director of operations for Springfield Catholic Charities.

“Catholic Charities and the Hospital Sisters made a substantial commitment to bring quality, affordable health care to the people of Beardstown,” said Steven Roach, executive director of Catholic Charities for the Springfield Diocese. “We are very grateful for the opportunity to serve and for the support we have received from the community over the years, especially the Excel Corporation and the Beardstown Foundation.”

Nurse practitioner Kellie Stocker was hired as the primary provider and Roach said she quickly became “the face” of St. Francis. In addition to demonstrating her clinical skills, Stocker also managed the daily operations of the clinic for the first several years. Administrative oversight and support was provided by Catholic Charities.

The clinic saw its patient load continue to grow on an annual basis. Moreover, the positive reputation of the St. Francis clinic also continued to expand in both the Anglo and Hispanic communities. In 2005, the Illinois Rural Health Association gave St. Francis its Award of Merit for providing outstanding services in rural health care.

“Catholic Charities desires to fill unmet needs in the communities where we provide services,” Roach said. “Quality health care that is accessible and affordable is no longer an unmet need in this community. Beardstown is not losing a provider and I am particularly pleased that the patients of St. Francis will have the opportunity for continuity of care at the new Cass County facility.”

On Monday, Aug. 10, the Cass County Health Department will open a satellite facility at 8570 St. Luke’s Drive in Beardstown, said Sakolsky, adding that a few other physicians have also begun to practice in the town over the past several years.

All patients of the clinic were notified by mail and given instructions regarding their medical records. “Someone will be at the (St. Francis Clinic) site until Aug. 3 to process requests for transfers of medical records,” Sakolsky said. “After that there will be a sign posted on the door giving patients instructions about how they can maintain their records.

“You know, when we were opening the (St. Francis) clinic, Steve and I referred to it as ‘Mission Impossible’ because it is so unusual for Catholic Charities to run a health clinic,” Sakolsky said. “Now we’re saying it is ‘Mission Accomplished.’”

Catholic Charities will continue to operate the St. Anne Residence (housing for low-income seniors) and the MedAssist Program (prescription assistance) in Beardstown, Roach said.