Everybody’s Well-Being Matters

When Abe Lincoln, the executive director of the healthcare clinic Savie Health, gets stressed about running an organization, he sits in the back corner of the waiting room of the Savie Health office. He watches patients exit their appointments with tears in their eyes, experiencing a moment of tremendous relief after receiving the healthcare they need and deserve. These moments pull Lincoln out of his stressed state as he is reminded of the organization’s impact and why he does what he does. 

Savie Health is a free clinic in Santa Barbara County that provides healthcare services to those who do not have insurance. They often serve individuals who cannot afford privatized insurance, or do not qualify for government programs. “My goal is to provide the same level, same high quality, same compassionate care to people, regardless of their situation,” says Lincoln.

Nearly 10% of individuals in Santa Barbara County are uninsured, according to the Santa Barbara Foundation. Many times, it’s the undocumented population that fears going to the doctor’s office most, Lincoln says. Which is often why these individuals leave medical issues untreated until they become life-threatening. Savie Health wants to prevent that. 

To ensure undocumented individuals feel comfortable seeking care, the clinic requests minimal personal information from patients. Their operating hours are the same as a normal doctor’s office: 9 am to 4 pm, four days a week. The clinic also offers follow-up appointments and medication (no narcotics) for free or at a low cost. They also provide free vision care for those who need it most, which includes eye exams and glasses if required, through a partnership with SEE International. 

Savie Health was started by Dr. Ahmad Nooristani, who saw a problem within the existing healthcare system – the underserved population wasn’t getting preventative, quality primary healthcare. Dr. Nooristani first created the SLO Noor Foundation, a clinic in San Luis Obispo that provides free dental, medical, and vision care to the uninsured. While subsequently working at Lompoc Valley Medical Clinic, he realized the need for a free health clinic in the Santa Barbara County area. 

Savie Health continues the tradition of offering the uninsured proactive care that addresses potential problems early on, helping to prevent subsequent health crises and costly, stressful emergency room visits. Individuals with no healthcare can often neglect chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes, which can lead to severe complications.

“All those things that if you find sooner rather than later, you can make a huge amount of difference at a very small cost,” says Lincoln. “Before a heart attack happens, before a stroke happens, before cancer gets so, so, so far down the line.”

It’s often this fear around healthcare that can cause unnecessary stress. Lincoln recalls an incident when a panicked patient thought they had missed their appointment; they were angry, and Lincoln had to drive to the office to assess the situation. “He was so frightened,” recalls Lincoln of the patient. “He had things going on that he didn’t know what it was, he didn’t have any control. He was literally scared for his life.” After talking to the patient and calming him down, Lincoln got him his appointment. Once the man received the medical attention he needed, he hugged Lincoln and wouldn’t let go. “Because he was so grateful that finally, somebody was going to help him.” 

Savie Health is there to help… Everybody. Because everybody’s well-being and health matters.