Clinic’s Middlesex outreach observes its 1st full year
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| The Northern Neck Free Health Clinic presented a certificate of appreciation Sunday to Lower United Methodist Church in Hartfield. For the past year, the church has provided space, volunteers and support for a clinic outreach office each Tuesday afternoon. From left are, Jean Nelson, the clinic’s executive director; Lanice Peach, volunteer coordinator for the church; and Suzi Bowman, outreach coordinator. |
The outreach office is open every Tuesday afternoon in space provided by the church, which also provides weekly volunteer support. The office, for Middlesex County residents who qualify for clinic services, serves both those new to the clinic as well as existing patients.
Among outreach office offerings are patient eligibility screenings, which are required at the clinic every three months; pick-up of prescribed medications; and assistance for low-income Medicare patients (who see their own doctor) in obtaining costly pharmaceuticals.
During the first year at Hartfield, the outreach office served some 250 patients and distributed about 1,000 prescriptions. About 30 church volunteers also have contributed more than 700 volunteer hours.
Additionally, the value of services provided to the clinic’s Middlesex County patients during 2009—$1,180,743—is an increase of 36% compared to the year earlier. The increase is indicative of the impact the outreach clinic has had.
Since the Free Health Clinic’s founding in 1993, more than 1,000 Middlesex residents have been served and $5.8 million worth of health care has been provided to them.
Overall, the clinic has provided more than $36 million in health-care services to about 7,000 individuals living in Middlesex, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland counties.
For more information on the clinic and its medical, dental and pharmacy services, call 435-0575 or visit http://www.nnfhc.com.
