History

Southern Trinity Health Services is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization designated as a Rural Health Clinic (95-210). STHS was established May 13, 1977 by a group of concerned citizens who were troubled about the tremendous distance to health care. 

They wanted an ambulance service so they could get to the hospital in case of emergency.  They soon realized the tremendous cost of running an emergency medical service as a stand alone entity. Research and tenacity led them to the idea of creating a health center with an ambulance service and from the fruits of their love for the community Southern Trinity Health Services was born. 

This isolated and sparsely populated (Frontier) service area encompasses 1,250 square miles, roughly the size of the State of Rhode Island with 3.5 people per square mile. The area is designated as a Medically Underserved Area and Health Professional Shortage Area for Primary Care, Dental, and Mental Health. The mountainous terrain has only one primary road, which winds a narrow 52 miles (1½ to 2 hours) to the nearest population center. There is no public transportation and the area has suffered an economic collapse. The service area unemployment rate in October 2004 was 11.3% compared with the county rate of 8.6% and a state rate of 5.6%. Sixty-eight percent of residents live below the federal poverty limit. The area is inhabited by several vulnerable populations including the elderly, homeless, substance abusers, and the mentally ill. The service area has a rate of mental illness and substance abuse disproportionately high with many suffering from co-occurring disorders.

Old facility pic here

Demographics:
1,250 square mile service area (Frontier);
4,334 population / 3.5 People/sq mile;
Nearest other services 52 miles away (1 ½ - 2 hours) over harsh mountainous terrain;
Designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Area (MUA);
68% live below the Federal Poverty Level.
The only other local services are schools, Community Service District, USFS, VFD’s, post offices, and small grocery stores & restaurants.

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