Free Neighborhood Health Clinic
History
In the area surrounding Shepherd, approximately half of our neighbors are in low-income households and represent those most impacted by health disparities. In an effort to fight the fragmentation of health care, Shepherd opened a free neighborhood health clinic on March 3, 2007. When the clinic first opened, it operated one Saturday a month. In September 2008, it began operating the first four Saturdays a month.
The health clinic was originally started for the purpose of addressing short-term and acute illnesses in the area, such as ear infections, bronchitis, and coughs.
Today, the clinic is so much more. It now meets the need for accessible high-quality health care in our community, provides a continuity of care, and optimizes the heath of our neighbors through health education and preventative services. In recent years, we have treated more chronic cases of illnesses such as thyroid problems, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
The health clinic is open on Saturday mornings from 9am to 12pm. It is operated by one full-time Shepherd staff member and approximately 75 volunteers, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Shepherd provides childcare to make the clinic more available to busy parents, and cheerful volunteers serve breakfast to waiting patients.
Program
Shepherd believes that creating a continuity of care between our neighbors and a primary care physician will significantly reduce ER visits for aggravated acute and chronic cases that could be addressed earlier. We accomplish this by providing free healthcare and working to connect our neighbors to a permanent medical home and a health care payer.
Besides providing free healthcare basics to our neighbors, we are committed to improving healthcare delivery, health education, and nutrition among those we serve. Additionally, health education is integrated into our educational programming, and we provide nutrition and healthy living classes to our families. The clinic also periodically hosts special clinics with an emphasis on preventative care such as kidney screenings, cholesterol screenings, women’s care, and more.
Another important aspect of the health clinic is providing a bridge between our neighbor’s world and the healthcare system. The world of healthcare is complex and often difficult to navigate, especially for those who have a language barrier. Shepherd has a Patient Navigator who guides our neighbors through the process of finding a physician and applying for insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. Our Patient Navigator even helps provide transportation for our neighbors to ensure they can keep their appointments.
Objective and Outcomes
Shepherd believes that increasing the number of families who have access to care and increasing health literacy within our families has an exponential positive impact on the community. The immediate gains are measured by the following, namely:
- reduction in the number of people who utilize the emergency room for primary care
- increased preventative and maintenance, and
- sustainable long-term lifestyle changes within our families
Since opening the clinic, we have successfully connected 304 neighbors with a permanent medical home and health care payer. In 2010, we saw 274 patients for more than 700 visits.
Get Involved
Because of the high demand for quality healthcare, we are always looking for doctors, nurses (lab and other), and pharmacists to help us reach the community. Volunteers without medical skills are still needed to provide breakfast and guide visitors and patients through the clinic. Click here for more information.
For more information about the Health Clinic, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
