Free Clinic of Pierce & St. Croix Counties ready to serve patients
RIVER FALLS, Wis. 04/20/2007--After a year of planning and development, the Free Clinic of Pierce & St. Croix Counties is ready to serve patients. Uninsured, low-income people can get the health care they need on Tuesday evenings, starting April 24. The Free Clinic uses space within the River Falls Medical Clinic.
The steering committee that worked to create the clinic has been replaced by a permanent board that will guide its operations.
"We've moved from planning and creating to operating a working clinic with the structure and leadership needed for long-term success," says Mary Conroy Johnson, RN, Free Clinic board chair and nurse at River Falls Area Hospital.
Linda Robertson, RN, clinic manager, will oversee the activities of more than 100 volunteers, including dozens of doctors, nurses and physicians' assistants.
"The Free Clinic will serve uninsured residents of Pierce and St. Croix counties living at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level," Robertson says. "We know that other people have needs too, but our resources are limited and we can make a substantial impact on that targeted population."
Basic medical care and more
The Free Clinic will provide basic care for anything that might require a medical clinic visit, including one-time visits for colds and flu or management of chronic conditions such as diabetes. In addition to health care services, the clinic also helps patients get access to needed medications.
The clinic will go beyond the usual free clinic model by helping patients enroll in other assistance programs, such as Badger Care, or in national prescription assistance programs sponsored by drug companies. The clinic will also help connect patients with other local resources, such as food pantries and heat assistance programs.
We need your help
"Community support helped get the clinic started," says Heather Logelin, director of the Kinnickinnic Health Foundation, which has spearheaded fundraising efforts for the Free Clinic. "In addition to our efforts, several community groups had their own fundraisers and donated the proceeds to the clinic. We will continue to need this financial assistance from the community to offer care to the low-income and uninsured in our area. "
In addition to funds, volunteers are needed.
"We need volunteers with medical skills, such as doctors, physicians' assistants and nurses," says Mary Steele, the clinic's volunteer coordinator. "Fundraisers, copywriters, graphic designers and other non-clinical help is also needed. Several restaurants and churches have generously agreed to provide meals for the volunteers on clinic nights, and we need that type of support, too."
About River Falls Area Hospital
River Falls Area Hospital provides a full range of inpatient, outpatient and emergency care services.
River Falls Area Hospital is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, a family of hospitals, clinics and specialty care services in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. They are taking a leadership role to promote healthy eating and physical activity through their heart healthy living and obesity initiatives with an emphasis on childhood obesity. Over the next five years, Allina and River Falls Area Hospital will be working with community organizations to improve nutrition and increase physical activity to decrease obesity and improve heart health.
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