Clinic offers free health screenings

The Costner Care Family Clinic of Plains will be reaching out to offer “Free Health Screening Day” on Friday, August 26, from 1-5 p.m. at the Gospel Way Church at 414 Railroad St. in Plains.

This is the second time the Costner family has conducted a free clinic session. The first one was in April in Thompson Falls. The free health screenings are a service of Costner Care Family Ministries, a new 501c3 nonprofit in Plains.

“As healthcare providers, we are here for the mission of service and bringing hope, even in the midst of illness,” said Family Nurse Practitioner David Costner, who owns the clinic with his wife, Julie, a registered nurse of 26 years. Costner also said that they wanted to offer the free community service because for the past couple of years people have delayed or missed getting their usual health screenings out of a fear of contracting COVID-19 at a healthcare facility. He also believes there are many community members without health insurance or perhaps having a scheduling problem to get a screening accomplished.

Due to time constraints, Costner said they can take only the first 50 people. The screenings will include checking vital signs, such as temperature, pulse, respiratory, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, blood sugar content, urinalysis, and an EKG, an electrocardiography that records the electrical signal of the heart. They will also conduct A1C screening, which reports a person’s blood sugar level, a common test for diabetes, and they will have interviews with the patients to talk about cardiac risk factors. Costner said that a summary of results would be done at the time of service, but he noted that they would need to follow up with their primary care provider to address any abnormal results.

“It is important to be in tune with your vital signs, particularly if you have an irregular heart rhythm, increasing risk for thromboembolic stroke, or chronically elevated blood pressure which, at a minimum, leads to early heart failure,” said Costner. He noted that screenings are an important part of remaining healthy and he is pleased to offer this service. “Some things are more important than the financial bottom line. We are blessed to live in a community that knows we need each other and it’s time to give back,” he said. The Costner couple opened their clinic nearly a year ago. It is located along Railroad Street on the west side of Plains. He said it started as a family discussion in 2019 and included their four children and grandparents, who agreed they were being called to reach out to the community to provide health care, even during a pandemic.

The clinic opened in July of 2021, and they have patients from Heron to Lonepine to Paradise, along with folks from St. Regis, DeBorgia, Missoula and Helena. They are in the process of remodeling the clinic to double its space and are adding more advanced equipment. “None of this could have happened without our community or our faith, which teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves,” said Costner, who also said he is grateful for the neighbors and friends in western Montana who entrusted their care in the clinic.

“Our loyalty is to Sanders County, but it’s been surprising the number of patients traveling great distances to hear there is hope,” said Costner, who graduated from Southern Adventist University in 2010, has six years of nursing and advanced nursing, 11 years as a family practice provider, and has been in the healthcare business for 18 years. His wife is a graduate of the Mercy School of Nursing in Charlotte, North Carolina. Previously to opening his clinic, he was a family nurse practitioner at Clark Fork Valley Hospital for five years.

On Free Health Screening Day, Costner will be joined by his wife, his son, Elijah, a registered nurse student who graduated in May as a licensed registered nurse, and who is now training to become a radiology technician, and Dr. Jeanne Williams of Clark Fork Valley Hospital.

The health screenings are free, but people can donate to the Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization based in North Carolina. The organization is headed by Franklin Graham, son of the late evangelist Billy Graham. “They are known for sponsoring medical providers willing to place their life on the line to confront new and highly virulent diseases, and more recently providing aid to Ukrainian refugees,” said Costner.

Costner said he’d like to continue this community outreach on a quarterly basis and hold it in different communities each time. He said he appreciates that Pastor Chris Mull is allowing the screening to be done at his church and allowing their mobile clinic to provide a service to the community. “Care is available. Optimism still rules the day. We consider ourselves part of the healthcare team in western Montana, even if our philosophy, “Healthcare is a highest priority to us, but not The highest priority — Faith, Family, Freedom,” may be somewhat unique. “Many in our community are recovering from post COVID syndrome and less than optimal oxygen status, others with uncontrolled diabetes at great risk of complications, such as non-healing wounds, early cardiovascular disease,” said Costner. “Equally important is our spiritual health providing courage and inspiration to face each day during these difficult times,” he added.

To donate to the ministry, visit costnercarefamilyministries.com.