Trinity Health Center, Heart to Heart International Mark One Year of Point-of-Care Lab in DeSoto County

Photo: The Point-of-Care Lab set up at Trinity Health Center, which was provided with the partnership with the Kansas-based Heart to Heart International. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

HORN LAKE, Miss. — Sept. 3, 2025 — Trinity Health Center celebrated the one-year anniversary of its partnership with Heart to Heart International on Wednesday, marking the success of a point-of-care laboratory that has transformed access to healthcare for DeSoto County’s uninsured.

The $68,000 lab, funded through Heart to Heart International’s board of directors, has provided more than 400 rapid diagnostic tests to 372 patients since its installation in August 2024. By offering same-day test results for conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, strep, flu and COVID-19, the lab allows patients to receive immediate diagnoses and treatment plans during a single visit.

Heart to Heart International Senior Vice President of Programs Tena Tiruneh said the program is part of a two-year initiative to support clinics serving the working uninsured. “Point-of-care means the ability to do testing where the patient is,” Tiruneh said. “This provides real-time results that can change lives on the spot.”

LaToya Berry, Heart to Heart’s point-of-care lab implementation professional, praised Trinity’s staff for their commitment. “Your dedication to patients has shined through in everything you do,” Berry said. “We’ve seen remarkable improvements in patients’ A1c levels and overall health outcomes.”

The partnership is especially significant in Mississippi, which ranks 49th in the nation for overall health outcomes. According to Trinity Health Center, more than 31 percent of DeSoto County residents are uninsured, and about 40 percent of the clinic’s patients are non-English speakers. The ability to test and develop treatment plans on-site—often with translators present—has improved patient compliance and outcomes.

During the anniversary event, Heart to Heart International presented Trinity Health Center with a Certificate of Achievement recognizing the impact of the program. Clinic staff shared stories of patients who discovered undiagnosed conditions—including hypertension and diabetes—through the new testing system.

The faith-based Trinity Health Center opened in 2020 inside the DeSoto County Dream Center in Horn Lake. It remains the only clinic of its kind in the county, offering primary care and preventive health education on a sliding fee scale for the working uninsured.