Sarasota Memorial Community Specialty Clinic

1851 Arlington Street, Suite 208 (second floor)

941-917-2566

APPOINTMENTS ARE BY REFERRAL ONLY   

Sarasota Memorial's Community Specialty Clinic (CSC) provides specialty medical care and referral services to Sarasota County residents who are uninsured or underinsured, who demonstrate a true financial need, and who are age 18 or older. Thanks to a $275,000 expansion, the clinic now can accommodate more patients than it ever has in its 30 years of serving the local community.

Staffed by volunteer physicians who treat CSC patients at the clinic or their own practices, the Community Specialty Clinic offers specialty medical care for many health problems and can arrange patient referrals to specialty services it does not offer. The CSC does not provide primary medical care, and patients must have a physician referral in order to be treated through the CSC. 

Specialty services available on site at the Community Specialty Clinic include:

• Cardiology
• Dermatology
• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology (GI)
• Gynecology
• Neurology
• Orthopedics (non-surgical)
• Podiatry
• Surgery (limited)
• Urology

Offsite specialty services that the CSC can refer patients to include:

• Breast health
• Blood-thinner management clinics (Coumadin, Wayfarin)
• Surgery
• Urology
• Nutritional services
• Hematology and oncology
• Radiation oncology
• Interventional cardiology
• Infectious disease
• Heart Failure Center
• Vascular surgery
• Ear, nose and throat (ENT)
• Ophthalmology
• Fracture Clinic
• Rehabilitation
• Pulmonology
• Sleep Disorder Clinic
• Wound care
• Memory Clinic

The CSC Team

The SMH Community Specialty Clinic is primarily staffed by volunteer physicians, along with experienced nurses and administrative personnel. The leadership team comprises: 

• Medical Director Rickey Wiseman, MD
• Manager Rodica Vasilescu, PhD, APN-C, GNP-BC, TTS

For more information or help getting a referral, please contact the Community Specialty Clinic at 941-917-2566.   

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can be treated at the Community Specialty Clinic?

The CSC does not offer primary medical care, and patients seeking specialty care through the clinic must meet several guidelines. They must be 18 years old or older and must be Sarasota County residents who fall within 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline (see accompanying table) and have little or no health insurance.

Patients must have a physician referral and be able to show proof of Sarasota County residency (current address or a picture ID and/or utility bill in their name with complete address) and proof of income/financial need.

To find out whether you qualify or to get help with the process, call 941-917-2566.

How do I get a physician referral?

Ask your primary care doctor or healthcare provider to fax in a referral, along with demographic and order note information; referrals can be faxed to 941-917-7375. Once the referral has been approved, CSC staff will contact you to make an appointment for registration. (Referring physicians, click here for instructions.)

Healthcare providers that regularly refer patients to the Community Specialty Clinic include the SMH Internal Medicine Practice at Newtown, Department of Health - Sarasota, the SMH Health Center and ER at North Port, North County Healthcare Center, Friendship Centers - Sarasota / Venice, Englewood Community Care Clinic, Good Samaritan Pharmacy & Health Services, and physicians on staff at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

Does the Community Specialty Clinic handle emergencies or immunizations?

The CSC does not offer urgent or emergency care, nor does it give flu shots or routine immunizations. Other services that the CSC does not offer include: 

• Dispensing chronic pain medication
• Disability determination exams
• HIV or STD diagnosis or treatment
• Pregnancy testing or pregnancy-related problems
• School or sports physicals
• Second opinions

Nominate a ‘Volunteer Doctor of the Month’

The Community Specialty Clinic would not be able to provide high-quality, affordable, specialty medical care to our patients without the dozens of local, active and retired physicians who donate their time and expertise to make it all happen. 

In an effort to recognize these healthcare providers’ tremendous contribution to our patients, Sarasota Memorial, and the local community, CSC leadership names a “Volunteer Doctor of the Month” each month. 

If you would like to say a special thank you to one of CSC’s volunteer physicians by nominating them for Volunteer Doctor of Month, we encourage you to send an email to rodica-vasilescu@smh.com with the doctor’s name and why you think he/she should be named Volunteer Doctor of the Month. Let’s show these doctors how much we appreciate the work they do!