When you hear “Free health clinic,” what comes to your mind? A crowded and poorly maintained building? Overworked doctors, limited services and outdated equipment?
I have had the privilege to work at Good News Clinics, a free clinic in Gainesville, for the past 11 years. I work with doctors and dentists who see our patients on their day off, often despite having a waiting list for new patients in their own practice. Why do they provide their services for free? Because they believe everyone deserves access to health care, of equal quality to those with insurance.
GNC’s first director, Dr. Sam Poole, said “it is terrible to be sick, but it is a travesty to be sick in the United States and not have access to medical care.” We now have 40 physicians, 9 mid-level providers and 41 dentists volunteering in our clinic to provide care to those in need, many of whom have chronic illnesses or dental pain. Upon referral, we are also able to guarantee follow-up care for all of our patients from over 300 specialists for services including surgery, oncology and cardiology. Our building houses nine medical exam rooms, four dental operatories, an ophthalmology exam room, a medication dispensary, physical therapy, counseling, imaging services and an education classroom.
Each month, GNC sees over 1,000 individuals and fills over 3,200 prescriptions.
Probably not what you envisioned.
Another surprising fact is GNC does not apply for federal, state or local government dollars, yet we are now the largest free medical and dental clinic in Georgia. How did this happen, and how can we operate with a $1.3 million budget?
Hall County has prioritized access to health care for its residents. Caring individuals, businesses, churches and foundations support GNC and, in turn, our network of health care providers donate over $22 million in services each year. The local hospital, Northeast Georgia Medical Center, partners with us to provide free in-patient and out-patient services and additional financial support. Many of our physicians and dentists make volunteering part of their private practice, and a consideration when recruiting new providers.
But with the Affordable Care Act, everyone has insurance now, right? No, your income must be 100 percent of the federal poverty level to apply for insurance in the marketplace ($23,500 annually for a family of four). Without a free or charitable clinic, many individuals working several part-time jobs would have to go to the emergency room for care that could have been provided in a physician’s office at greatly reduced cost. GNC still sees over 50 new medical patients and 60 new dental patients each month.
What impact does a free clinic have on patient health? Last year, new patients improved their health status in the following ways: 64 percent decreased their blood glucose levels, 59 percent lowered their blood pressure and 40 percent lost weight. Great numbers, certainly, but comments tell the story much better than statistics.
“You saved my husband’s life” shows how important primary care is for early detection of life-threatening conditions. But often it is the simple appreciation for restoring basic functions, such as, “I can walk without pain” or, “I can chew again” or (from a person who had lost their job and was living in a homeless shelter due to cataracts), “I can now see and work again.”
What an experience! If you spent a day with me, you would see how one community delivered on their promise to provide care to all residents regardless of income, and maybe your idea of what a free clinic looks like would change dramatically. The patients would remind you of your son, aunt or neighbor, and the health care professionals would impress you with their expertise and enthusiasm.
Each of us has a role to play in addressing the need of the uninsured. The Georgia Charitable Care Network (www.charitablecarenetwork.org) has a listing of free and charitable (sliding fee scale) clinics. I encourage you to visit one. You may decide to become involved because you recognize the economic benefits of a healthy community. Or perhaps you will volunteer or make a donation because of your religious beliefs, because a family member depends on a clinic for care, or simply because you believe it's the right thing to do.
Providing access to health care is a complex problem with no single solution; many communities do not have a local hospital, specialty physicians or the wealth to support a clinic. Our state has many regions without primary care physicians. We need to think creatively about how tele-medicine, current health facilities and the role of nurse practitioners can be expanded to provide primary care to the uninsured.
Yes, 1.3 million uninsured Georgians is a travesty. I believe we can address this need if we work together. What if one of your family members had no access to care?
Cheryl M. Christian is executive director of the Good News Clinics in Gainesville.
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