connections - Sonora Regional Medical Center

Mel Souza & Sheila Monaghan, NP
Pictured, right: Dwight Klump, DDS & Mel Souza
Hope Saves the Day
November 14
Project HOPE
Project HOPE is a free mobile clinic that
provides minor primary care to patients
who do not have medical insurance or have
a high deductible. The on-board nurse
practitioner provides minor assessment
and treatment, and can prescribe
medication. 9
th , 2011, was a day Mel Souza will
always remember. He had battled pain in
his mouth for several weeks due to a broken
tooth. His face was swollen and he was in excruciating
pain. His health insurance had expired and he didn’t have
money to spare. He was desperate.
His wife told him about the Project HOPE Mobile
Health Clinic, run by Sonora Regional Medical Center,
parked outside of Wal-Mart on Mondays and Fridays.
Nurse practitioner Sheila Monaghan examined Mel and
worried that it was more than just a toothache. He could
have infectious parotitis—an inflammation of the major
salivary gland located on the side of his face. She knew that
if she couldn’t get him to a dentist, he would have to go to
the Emergency Department.
“Mel needed to be seen,” said Monaghan. “The
situation could have become life-threatening if he waited
too long.”
She sent him to the Forest Road Dental Clinic, which
treats people without dental insurance and also provides emergency dental procedures for those on
Medi-Cal or CMSP.
“I was really impressed,” said Souza. “Sheila went above and beyond what she was required to
do. She treated me like an emergency case. Days later, I went back to the van to thank her.”
In 2011, the Medical Center provided 1,860 free patient visits at the Project HOPE Mobile
Health Clinic, 500 free sports physicals and 81 free dental procedures.
“I have a strong place in my heart for the people of our community,” said Monaghan. “I want
residents to know that we are here for anyone who has an unexpected medical condition and needs
free medical care.”