The line wraps around the outside of the building long before the clinic opens at 5 p.m. That's because, after five years, people know that Luke's Place in Mableton provides free medical treatment delivered by people who care.

Inside the clinic, doctors, nurses, a social worker, a secretary and interpreters prepare for what will soon be a standing-room-only crowd in the waiting room. They know that, in the next few hours, there will be no time for food or restroom breaks and no end to the variety of cases they'll see. But they can't wait to get started.

"I work harder here than I've ever worked anywhere, and it's one of the most rewarding things I've ever done," said Vicky Hogue, RN, BSN, CCRN, director of nursing at WellStar Cobb Hospital. Hogue and nurses from WellStar Cobb's critical care units help staff the clinic, which is open on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and every other Saturday.

Luke's Place, an acronym for Locally United in Kindness, Empathy and Service, Placing Love Above Careless Evil, was begun by Eric Davis, a Mableton resident and liver transplant recipient. In 2002, he converted his 1865 building, which had been the town's post office and general store, into a free neighborhood clinic. He asked his retired vascular surgeon, Dr. Warlito Rollolazo, and another local doctor to provide part-time services.

The idea began to grow after Davis enlisted the help of his friend Donna Pennington, BSW, who works at WellStar Cobb Hospital. As someone who had been a social worker for 25 years and had cultivated an extensive network of resources, Pennington became the point person for getting Luke's Place what it needed to operate, including medicine, supplies, equipment and volunteers.

"We needed a new exam table, and Donna made a call," Hogue said. "She knows every physician's office in the area and all the vendors. She doesn't take 'no' for an answer; she'll just go down another direction."

Pennington has been a mainstay at Luke's Place and often provides patients with referrals to specialists or other services, such as local food banks and shelters.

"We beg everything . . . supplies, a copy machine, medicines. If we have a drug on hand, we give it to patients free. But if we don't, we give them directions to BJ's [Wholesale Club], because their pharmacy gives our patients a discount," Pennington said.

Generosity is the key

Supported totally by donations and volunteer help, Luke's Place provides free basic and preventive health care to about 7,000 people.

"You don't have to live in Cobb County, and some people drive an hour just to come to us. They know we're a good team and that we'll do the best we can," said Edward Garcia, a local mechanic who has been translating for the clinic's Spanish-speaking patients for two years.

Another interpreter, Martin Altimarino, asked him to come.

"I like the people and am glad to help them," Garcia said. "Many are too busy working to learn the language."

Patients, ranging from newborns to the elderly, come with a variety of conditions, including ear infections, hypertension, diabetes, flu and asthma. For serious illnesses or injuries, the staff calls an ambulance service and sends patients to the hospital.

"Working here is so different than working in critical care," said Melissa Drain, RN, nurse manager for the critical care unit at WellStar Cobb. "When I first came, I said, 'Where's my equipment?' Everyone here does so much with so little.

"You only have time to take a quick history and learn the chief complaint. It really tests your physical assessment skills. In ICU, you don't always see the results of your work. Here, it's instant gratification."

Nurses tend to build a rapport with patients who come to the clinic regularly, especially the children. The words may have to be interpreted, but the hugs are universally understood.

Theresa Brothers, a school secretary, brought a friend to be treated at the clinic and was so impressed that she asked if Luke's Place could use the services of someone without medical skills. She's been helping to run the front office for a year and a half.

Barbara Burke, RN, BSN, a critical care nurse educator at WellStar Cobb, relishes the opportunity to teach patients how to better manage their diseases.

"It gives you a whole new appreciation of what others don't have, when you see what they have to go through just to get their child's throat checked," Burke said.

The critical care unit nurses' volunteer efforts grew out of an initiative to improve their own work environment.

"Working in critical care is high-stress. You see a lot of death and dying," Drain said.

Hogue had asked a team of nurses to devise ways to increase employee satisfaction. She showed them research about how workers who socialize together are happier. The team began planning monthly social outings for nurses and their families -- such as trips to Six Flags, exhibits, movies and dinners -- and requested a digital camera to record the events.

"We had so much fun together that we began looking for an avenue to give something back to the community," Drain said.

Luke's Place turned out to be a perfect fit. "When you go home at night, you may have to soak your feet, but it just makes you feel good to come here," she said.

"This is exactly why most of us became nurses -- not to worry about forms and insurance, but to help people get well," Burke added.

ON THE WEB

For more information, go to www.lukesplaceclinic.org.