Hagerstown Magazine - The Best of Life in Washington County & Beyond

September/October 2008
Healthy Living: Community Free Clinic Provides Tender Loving Health Care
The Community Free Clinic Provides Much-Needed Medical Care to Washington County’s Uninsured Residents.

by Carla Firey Shives + photos by Erick Gibson

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About 47 million Americans are without health insurance, according to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau. And although a routine check-up at the doctor’s office might incur a fee of just $80 or so, the annual cost of care for a condition like diabetes can total up to $10,000! Without health insurance, many individuals with chronic health problems flood hospital emergency rooms in an attempt to get routine medical care — or they skip the treatment they need.

Thankfully, a unique resource addresses the medical needs of uninsured residents here in Washington County — where 17 percent of citizens, or 23,970 people, are uninsured. The Community Free Clinic offers healthcare to any resident who has neither private nor public health insurance. Every service provided by the clinic —
including doctor visits, lab work, medications and diabetic monitoring — is free of charge. “There’s no exchange of funds ever,” says Robin Roberson, the clinic’s executive director.

Volunteer Heroes
Founded in 1990, the clinic began as a vision of Dr. Martin Gallagher, who realized many local uninsured residents needed medical care. The Union Rescue Mission offered a small space — a closet — where a stretcher could be placed, and Dr. Gallagher solicited area doctors to obtain sample medications to dispense to his patients. During the first year, he and a nurse saw more than 200 patients. As the local need quickly outgrew the space, the clinic moved to West Franklin Street, where it remained for eight years until relocating to a larger office on Mill Street in 2004.

Today, 30 medical providers — both physicians and mid-level practitioners — volunteer at the clinic, typically once a month (although a few come as often as once a week). “Many of these providers are coming to the clinic after a full work day,” Robin says. “They’ve seen patients in their own office all day, and then they come to the clinic to see patients for free.”

The volunteers seem to infuse the clinic with a cheerful friendliness. “The morale is exceptional,” says volunteer physician Dan McDougal, M.D. “Everybody really likes each other. There are smiles and laughter.” Robin agrees: “I believe this clinic has a spirit that just captures you once you come in here. It has a soul. It has a heart,” she says. “The people who work here believe in the mission.” Indeed, this caring tone seems to draw all types of volunteers to the clinic’s door. “It makes me feel good to volunteer,” says Registered Nurse Barbara Miller. “It’s a privilege to go there, where the people are caring and warm, and they never brush off a patient.” The clinic’s volunteer needs include non-medical services — including sorting medications, filing and cleaning — that can be met by anyone with a willingness to contribute.

And the volunteer staff extends beyond the individuals who see patients at the clinic. “The specialty physicians in the community donate a lot,” says Dr. McDougal. Many will see a clinic patient and perform procedures in their own office at no charge. “They’re not listed as volunteers because they never come to the clinic. But their willingness to take on these people and do major surgery or procedures within their field has been tremendous,” Dr. McDougal says. Even hospitals outside of Washington County, such as Johns Hopkins, have volunteered their physicians and facilities to perform complicated surgeries on clinic patients. “Hopkins and all the
specialists in our community are really unsung heroes,” Dr. McDougal says.

The Working Uninsured
“A lot of people have a misconception surrounding the Community Free Clinic,” says volunteer Lorri Rice, a nurse practitioner. Unlike many free health facilities in the nation, the CFC doesn’t usually serve the stereotypical “street” person. “Patients who come to the clinic are people who work.” Many patients actually work two jobs. “The people I see, speaking figuratively, are next-door neighbors,” Dr. McDougal says. “These are just regular American folks. They’re simply working two or three jobs and they’re barely getting by.”

The Community Free Clinic helps keep these hard-working Washington County residents from falling through the cracks in the health care system. “They either aren’t offered health insurance — like some construction workers and waitresses — or they can’t afford the premiums,” says Robin. “They make just a little too much money to qualify for any public assistance, but not enough to pay for food, utilities, heat and buy their prescription medication.”

Patients visit the facility to find real solutions for a wide range of medical problems. “We see everything from hangnails to acute medical problems,” says local accountant Jullie Caniford, president of the clinic’s Board of Directors. Primary-care services — such as care for a problem like a sinus infection — are provided by appointment. The CFC also offers once-a-month specialty clinics for other types of health needs. “We have an orthopedic clinic, a gynecology clinic, a podiatry clinic and a teen pregnancy clinic,” says Robin. Patients with chronic conditions including hypertension and diabetes benefit from ongoing care at the clinic. “We’ll give them 30 days of medication,” says Dr. McDougal. So patients with high blood pressure, for example, can visit the clinic every 30 days to receive free medication.

If a patient needs a prescription for medication that’s not available at the CFC, such as a narcotic drug, the clinic gives the patient a voucher that will be accepted as payment by a pharmacist. Many pharmaceutical companies offer a patient assistance program, which typically gives lower-income individuals their medications at a reduced rate. As a further service to its patients, the clinic also has volunteer staff to help patients complete the applications and paperwork necessary for participating in these programs.

Stretching the Dollar
The Community Free Clinic’s annual budget is just more than $550,000, which is used to treat the 15,000 patient visits CFC volunteers handle each year. “In 2007, we prescribed over 33,000 prescription medications with a value of $2.8 million — all on a $40,000 medication budget,” says Robin. Numerous donations from local physicians, organizations and individuals enable the CFC to meet patients’ prescription drug needs on such a limited budget.

Since the clinic receives no state or federal money, staff members try to obtain funding from other sources. “We do a lot of grant writing,” Robin says. “We’re funded by the Washington County Gaming Commission, United Way of Washington County, Washington County Health System and various other grant sources.” In addition, the clinic holds two major fund-raisers each year: a Potter’s Bowl Soup Dinner in late February and the Citi MUDD Volleyball Tournament in July. “And we’re also supported by individuals in the community who have just been gracious and kind and generous to send donations into the clinic, ” Robin says.

As the Community Free Clinic has evolved to become an ever more important resource, donations and volunteers have continued to meet the growing need and help keep Washington County residents healthy. “This is your classic win-win,” says Dr. McDougal. “Everybody’s doing the right thing, and it works for everybody.”

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The Community Free Clinic Stands Apart in Local Health Care.

The following facts about Hagerstown’s Community Free Clinic deserve a shout-out:

• There are only 600 free clinics in the entire nation, and The Community Free Clinic is unique in Maryland.
• The clinic is in its 18th year of operation.
• In 2007 alone, the clinic provided more than 14,500 patient visits and dispensed more than $2.8 million worth of prescription medication to its patients.
• The majority of clinic patients are employed full-time.
• The clinic is staffed by only three full-time and seven part-time employees.
• There is a core of more than 60 volunteers who come to the clinic on a regular basis.
• There is a group of more than 125 physicians in the local community who take referrals in their offices at no charge to the patient.

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Community Free Clinic

How You Can Help
The Community Free Clinic at 249 Mill Street in Hagerstown relies heavily on private donations and assistance. Read on to learn how you can contribute to this
indispensable asset.

Fund-raising
Since 2004, the clinic has experienced an ever-increasing demand for its services, including ancillary services such as lab work, prescription medication and medical supplies, which the clinic has to purchase.

Both major fund-raising events — the Potter’s Bowl Soup Dinner and the Citi MUDD Volleyball Tournament — need participants and volunteers. More information about these events can be found on the clinic’s Web site at www.cfcwc.com.

The CFC also depends heavily on contributions from individuals, organizations, churches, businesses and other agencies. Tax-deductible donations can be made on the clinic’s Web site or mailed directly to the clinic.

In-Kind Donations
The clinic can always use donations of:
• Office supplies: Copy paper, color copy paper, white #10 envelopes, yellow highlighters, black markers, regular and jumbo paper clips, scotch tape refill rolls, manila folders (third cut), manila envelopes (10x13), Avery 5160 labels and printer ink
• Building and cleaning supplies: 33-gallon trash bags, 13-gallon trash bags, Band-Aids, paper towels, toilet paper, Clorox wipes, bleach, plug-in air fresheners, window cleaner, zip-top baggies, light bulbs (60 and 100 watt), dish soaps, liquid hand soaps and refills, cleaning solutions and clear packing tape
• Medications
• Cash

Volunteers
As with many organizations, the CFC always needs volunteers. No medical training is
necessary. Volunteers can contribute with general office duties, such as filing or registering patients. Other volunteer opportunities include sorting medications, cleaning and event organization.

If you’re interested in donating items or volunteering with the clinic, call 301-733-9234 during office hours, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday.

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Community Free Clinic
249 Mill St., Hagerstown
301.733.9234
www.cfcwc.com