LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s American Heart Month and a cardiovascular clinic in downtown Louisville is providing an avenue of care to Kentuckians who are strapped financially.

If you don’t have health insurance, getting medical care can be daunting and expensive.

“It was stressful all the way through because I didn’t even know how to pay the original medical bills,” explains Have A Heart patient Deborah Scroghan. 

More than seven years ago, Schrogan was rushed to the hospital for a health scare that soon became a financial scare.

“In 2014, I had a heart attack and had stints placed in, but I didn’t have any insurance so after I got out of the hospital I didn’t know who I was going to see," Schrogan said.

This is when she found Have A Heart Clinic and its Co-Founder and Cardiologist Dr. Michael Imburgia.

“The stints failed and If I wasn’t seeing him wouldn’t know, it probably would’ve taken my life," Schrogan said.

The 50-year-old’s story is one of several at the Louisville-based heart clinic, aiming to elevate community healthcare to the thousands of Kentuckians who are low income, uninsured, and/or underinsured.

“70% of our patients are minorities and 85% of them are at or below the 200% federal poverty level,” Dr. Imburgia explained.

Since 2008, volunteers at the nonprofit including retiree Dr. Imburgia have provided a valuable safety net to the community — allowing his patients to receive the proper care, free of charge.

“I believe everybody should have access to healthcare. How long somebody lives, how healthy somebody lives should never be dependent upon how much they make or have,” Dr. Imburgia said.

Imburgia said he and his team of volunteers are on a mission to change lives, providing help to those who need it most. 

The clinic provides a wide range of services including cardiovascular consults and testing.

“Not having to worry about that financial burden, being able to go to a place and knowing that you’re not going to have to pay for the care, and you’re going to get great quality care is huge,” Dr. Imburgia added.

Dozens of volunteers including doctors, interpreters, and nurse practitioners like Alyssa Laing devote a lot of their time to help patients who have medical needs.

“It’s just so relieving to know you’re making a difference, that people know that you care and are available to help them out and money is not an issue here," Laing said.

Health professionals stressed that need for access to quality healthcare spans the entire Commonwealth. 

"Those who don’t should have a place to go. It’s just something I say and make time for and that needs to be done,” Laing said.

Since its founding, Have A Heart Clinic has provided more than $600,000 in free outpatient services for the community according to a press release. 

Those interested in volunteering or supporting the clinic can call the Have A Heart Clinic at 502-245-0002 or email info@haveaheartclinic.com.