The Free Clinics: Giving Healthcare Services Where The Need Is Greatest
Posted by Charity Watcher on Tuesday, January 26, 2016
In the late 1990s, Dr. Russell Sacco and Dr. Irwin Perlmutter started discussing the real and urgent need for a free healthcare clinic for people in need in Henderson County in North Carolina. The duo talked with their peers, made their case to gain support, and recruited leaders who became the first steering committee members. The dream of a free clinic finally came true on 13 December 2001 when the first clinic of The Free Clinic (TFC) opened its doors to patients.
In the next years, TFC management saw the need for other medical services that will bridge the gap between what was being offered and what was needed by the target beneficiaries. The organization’s growth was then partly motivated by its desire to bridge the gaps with the following services added over the years:
• Diabetic Life Management Clinic (July 2002) was added to provide assistance for low-income diabetic patients in the effective management of their disease.
• Dental Extraction Clinic (September 2002) is located is located at the Stokes Dental Center of Blue Ridge Community Health Services.
• Orthopedic Clinic (December 2003) was designed to provide more specialized orthopedic care for patients.
• Eye Clinic (August 2004) was initially established to provide eye screenings for patients with diabetes but was later redesigned to accept referrals.
• Psychiatric Clinic (December 2006) was established to provide patients with mental health issues with medication management and psychiatric appointments. The clinic was established to meet the unmet needs of patients resulting from the closure of Henderson County’s mental health provider.
Other clinics managed by TFC include the Pulmonary Clinic for patients requiring specialized pulmonary care; the Endocrinology Clinic that provides the only free endocrinology services in the county; and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for non-invasive, non-narcotic services as well as the Smoking Cessation program. TFC also has a Community Pharmacy that integrates a community pharmacy with prescription assistance.
In the next years, TFC management saw the need for other medical services that will bridge the gap between what was being offered and what was needed by the target beneficiaries. The organization’s growth was then partly motivated by its desire to bridge the gaps with the following services added over the years:
• Diabetic Life Management Clinic (July 2002) was added to provide assistance for low-income diabetic patients in the effective management of their disease.
• Dental Extraction Clinic (September 2002) is located is located at the Stokes Dental Center of Blue Ridge Community Health Services.
• Orthopedic Clinic (December 2003) was designed to provide more specialized orthopedic care for patients.
• Eye Clinic (August 2004) was initially established to provide eye screenings for patients with diabetes but was later redesigned to accept referrals.
• Psychiatric Clinic (December 2006) was established to provide patients with mental health issues with medication management and psychiatric appointments. The clinic was established to meet the unmet needs of patients resulting from the closure of Henderson County’s mental health provider.
Other clinics managed by TFC include the Pulmonary Clinic for patients requiring specialized pulmonary care; the Endocrinology Clinic that provides the only free endocrinology services in the county; and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for non-invasive, non-narcotic services as well as the Smoking Cessation program. TFC also has a Community Pharmacy that integrates a community pharmacy with prescription assistance.
