...because everyone needs healthcare
Our Mission The mission of the Free Clinic of Central Virginia is to provide primary medical, nursing, dental, pharmaceutical and educational services to those in Central Virginia who do not have the resources to obtain their basic healthcare needs.
A Letter from our Executive Director This is an exciting, yet challenging, time for the health of our community. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act has brought health insurance to over 216,000 Virginians. But large gaps in coverage mean that many in our community are without access to basic healthcare. The United Way of Central Virginia estimates that there are over 42,000 people in our region who are without health insurance. Last year, the Free Clinic of Central Virginia provided care to just over 3,000 patients. Our challenge is to secure the resources, form the partnerships, generate the solutions, and act as a catalyst to serve the remaining 39,000. Facing obstacles in obtaining basic health care, people come to the Free Clinic out of necessity and leave with a sense of appreciation for the more than 650 compassionate physicians, dentists, nurses, medical professionals and administrative volunteers who dedicate their time and talent to serve those who might otherwise go without. Of course, the Free Clinic is not free to operate, and with the help of public, private and individual support, we provide care to an ever-growing number of people in our community. Your gifts are a vital part of our mission, and the patients you support are grateful for your help. Please consider aiding our efforts through the donation of your time, talents and/or resources. Christina Delzingaro Since 1987, the Free Clinic of Central Virginia has responded to the growing yet unmet demand for quality healthcare by providing primary medical, nursing, dental, pharmaceutical and educational services to our neighbors who do not have the resources to obtain this basic care. Since we started in a church basement, our generous network of volunteers has provided quality healthcare to over 27,000 low-income uninsured or underinsured adults. We are dedicated to the belief that everyone should have access to healthcare services.
Our Services The Free Clinic provides a full array of primary and specialty medical and dental services for adults, either at the Free Clinic, or through referral to our partner providers. Primary Care Asthma/Allergy Care Audiology Cardiology Chiropractic Dermatology Ear, Nose and Throat Endocrinology Gynecology Hypertension/Kidney Disease Care Internal Medicine Mammography Mental Health Services Nephrology Nutrition Counseling Oncology Ophthalmology Orthopedics Physical Therapy Podiatry Rhuematology Urology The Free Clinic also operates the MedsHelp program, a medication assistance program designed to connect uninsured and under-insured residents with free drug programs provided by private pharmaceutical companies.
Community in Need According to the United Way, there are 42,394 people in Central Virginia who are without insurance. In 2013, the Free Clinic served 3,061 patients. In order to meet the primary care needs of all uninsured people in our region, we would have to expand our capacity more than ten-fold. Many uninsured and under-insured community member seek primary medical and dental care at the local emergency department. In 2013, there were 35,657 visits by 20,343 uninsured or under-insured patients to the Lynchburg General Hospital Emergency Department. These patients had an 8% inpatient hospital admission rate, versus a 33% admit rate for insured patients. This low rate of hospitalization indicates that the visits were for non-urgent conditions. Uninsured and under-insured patients come to the emergency department for nonurgent conditions because they lack access to primary care. Centra Health reports that care to these patients in the emergency department results in $65,000 per day of lost revenue. These costs are passed along to patients with private insurance and the businesses that provide this insurance for their employees. For a community to be healthy, it must be based on people s are and concern for one another Millard Fuller When adults have a primary care home, they are more likely to receive appropriate preventive services. When adults have a healthcare setting that provide timely, wellorganized care and access to a range of health providers, racial and ethnic health disparities are reduced or eliminated.
Volunteers Our volunteers form the core of who we are. The work of the Free Clinic is made possible by the generous donations of time, talent and service provided to us at no charge. Over 200 physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nutritionists, and health educators provide free medical and dental care each year. These medical professionals are joined by over 450 community members who provide administrative support, governance, leadership and fundraising support. Each year, our patients are the beneficicaries of over $2.9 million in donated services and supplies. While almost all services at the Free Clinic are provided by volunteers, we have a small paid staff equivalent to nine full-time positions. Staff includes a nurse practitioner, registered nurse, pharmacy technicians, dental assistants, and a case manager, as well as a small administrative staff.
Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhuman. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Free Clinic is committed to fiscal efficiency. We match every $1 donated with $5 in volunteer services and donated supplies. Income Individuals & United Way $243,329 Donations from Patients 32,831 Foundations & Grants 123,205 State Grants 108,568 Expenses Business/Corporate 24,187 Special Events 38,381 Programs and Services 95.8% Value of Volunteer Time 600,420 Value of Donated Lab 334,766 Value of Donated Medications 2,032,383 Other 11,838 TOTAL $3,549,908
Donors The Free Clinic of Central Virginia is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We owe our continued sustainability to tax-deductible donations from local churches, businesses, corporations, foundations and individual donors. Fully 64% of our annual operating budget comes from individuals and civic groups, including the United Way. Approximately 17% of our funding is from the state and 16% comes from foundation and other grants. The average cost to provide 12 months of comprehensive medical, dental and pharmacy services to one patient is $202. Even though our volunteer providers receive no compensation, the cost of operating a medical facility is high. Over the next year, we will be making improvements to our Clinic to ensure the highest level of patient care and infection control. We will also be implementing more electronic tools to improve our efficiency and decrease waiting times for patients. In addition, the Free Clinic is constantly expanding its role in the community and reaching out to help more and more people without insurance each year. During the first three months of this program year, we enrolled 439 new patients. This is a 66% increase from the same period last year. Now more than ever, the need for donations is critical as we work tirelessly to provide healthcare to individual without adequate insurance and to expand our services to meet the needs of our community.
Board of Directors Mark Johnson, President James Wright, Vice-President Stuart Turille, Treasurer Augustus Petticolas, DDS Secretary William Carrington, Jr. Past President Lori Nelson-Madison, MD Medical Director Bradley Bateman, PhD Fred Blanchard, PharmD Benjamin Clark George Dawson Linda Edwards, LCSW Gene Erb, PharmD John Falcone, Esq. Robert Flint David Gardner Kathleen Graves Juanita Gray Charles Haney Ronald Hendricksen, DDS Jay Hopkins, MD W. Rick Klein Paul Kolodny Patricia Pletke, MD Harriet Whitten Sterling Wilder I am so appreciative and grateful for the Free Clinic. The Clinic and the volunteers are miracles in my life. I am blessed to have the Clinic and am at a los for words to describe how well I am cared for. It is because of the Free Clinic that I am healthy. Louise Louise s story is not unique. She is just one of the thousands of patients the Free Clinic helps each year. Because everyone needs healthcare.
When you don t have insurance Louise is a healthcare professional. As a Certified Medical Assistant, Louise has provided in-home care to dozens of older adults in our community during her 30 year career. Her patients are able to pay for Louise s care because they have health insurance. Louise doesn t have insurance. Her employer doesn t provide it, and at $8 an hour, Louise doesn t make enough money to buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. Last year, Louise started having serious back pain. The pain was enough that she could not work. Without work, she wouldn t have money for rent, groceries or other necessities. She needed to find a doctor as soon as possible. Without insurance and low on cash, Louise didn t know where to turn. Then a friend told her about the Free Clinic. Here she received free medical care by our volunteer physicians, and medications from our pharmacy. Now she is back to work. And Louise continues to come to the Free Clinic for preventive care and dental care.
1016 Main Street Lynchburg, VA 24504 Main Phone 434-847-5866...because everyone needs healthcare MedsHelp 434-947-5737 Fax 434-528-2529 www.fccv.net