Shenandoah Valley Virginia Free
Clinics
To
provide compassionate and competent medical, dental and
pharmaceutical services to Shenandoah Valley residents
who otherwise could not afford them and who are making a
sincere effort to help themselves and their families
Shenandoah County VA - Free Clinic
Needs Your Help
The Free Clinic of Shenandoah
County
is looking for Volunteers and Sponsors.
SHENANDOAH COUNTY FREE CLINIC
Pam Murphy, Executive Director
PO Box 759 Woodstock, VA 22664
PHONE: (540) 459-1700
FAX: (540) 459-1809.
Shenandoah
County Free Clinic sees people at or below 150 percent of
the federal poverty level who have no other means of
acquiring health care. Sixty-four percent of the patients
are below 100% of the poverty level. Approximately two-thirds
of the patients have one or more chronic conditions
requiring continuing medication. Twenty percent of the
patients are primarily Spanish-speaking, many of whom
have rarely or never been to a doctor before coming to
the clinic.
Building
a Healthier Community
Let's face it, health care is expensive. For many people
without health or dental insurance, getting the care they
need may appear to be impossible.
That's why many health professionals and other people are
working together to offer a healthcare safety net to the
uninsured residents of Shenandoah County.
The Clinic is located at the former health department
building at 781 Spring Parkway in Woodstock behind
Shenandoah Memorial Hospital. It is open on Thursday
evenings to serve the primary care health needs of county
residents without insurance, whose household incomes are
close to the U.S. poverty level. In 2003, the Clinic
board of directors hopes to add emergency dental care.
Having adequate access to healthcare is important to
individuals, to the productivity of businesses and to the
general well being of the community. As such, there will
be no set fee for services but donations from patients
will be encouraged as a means to help defray costs of
running the Clinic.
Fast
FAQs
Q. Who is a typical
client?
Most clinic patients will be working people ages 18-55.
This is because there are no governmental insurance
programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and FAMIS (children's
health coverage) to cover this group. For example, 2/3 of
the people in Virginia without health insurance work full
time. Most of these people simply don't make enough to
afford health insurance.
Q. How do Clinic services differ from those offered by
the health department?
The health department is funded by the government and is
charged with meeting specific health needs. It offers
immunizations, tests for pregnancy and sexually
transmitted diseases, family planning, school physical
exams and other specialized services. It does not offer
the wide range of services needed in a primary care
facility like the Free Clinic.
Q. Shouldn't sick people use the hospital emergency room
for their care?
Yes, if they have an urgent situation they should seek
help from the emergency room. However, that is not the
best alternative for non-urgent illness. It is more
expensive than a doctor's office and can't offer the
follow-up care that may be needed. The Clinic will
operate much like a doctor's office and help with
everything from mitigating the symptoms of influenza to
managing heart disease.
Q. How can a clinic operate if it doesn't charge a fee?
An army of volunteers helps keep costs down. Shenandoah
County Free Clinic offers over $6 in services for every $1
it spends. However, it needs to continually replenish
supplies and pay other typical business expenses, and
thus is very dependent on the community for support.
Q. How can the Clinic help with medications?
The Clinic will actively solicit non-narcotic samples
from doctors and pharma-ceutical companies for use by
patients. The Clinic works with drug companies to solicit
free long-term prescriptions for patients with chronic
needs. Local independent pharmacists also sell our
patients medications at a reduced cost. The Clinic is
unable to offer any drug assistance for medicare patients
as the pharmaceutical companies already have comparable
disount programs to assist medicare patients.
Q. What services are not available through the Clinic?
Services provided by other agencies for free or on a
sliding scale are generally not available. People needing
family planning, school physical exams, immunizations,
tests for sexually transmitted diseases or women's health
programs are encouraged to call Shenandoah County Health
Department at 459-3733. People with psychiatric needs
should call Northwestern Community Services at 459-5180.
Q. How does a patient get started?
They can call the Clinic at (540) 459-1700 to find out if
they might qualify and make a Thursday night appointment.
They should plan on bringing proof of their income and
Shenandoah County residency on their first visit, as well
as any medications they use regularly.
Your
Donations Can Help?
With your generous
donations, you can provide crucial health care for
working families who are without insurance or other
resources.
You could help:
A single mother who is diabetic and who cannot afford the
medication to control her disease.
A working father who is in great pain from dental
problems, and cannot afford private care.
A woman with a breast lump get the diagnostic tests and
care she needs.
A sick child whose parent recently lost a job and health
insurance.
A young adult, who is struggling to finish school and
work a low-paying job, get the asthma medications she
needs.
Please
send your tax-deductible donations to:
Shenandoah County Free Clinic
P.O. Box 759
Woodstock, VA. 22664
The crisis of the uninsured is one of
America's, and Virginia's, greatest
health care challeges. For more information, see
http://covertheuninsured.org
A
list of Free Clinics in the Shenandoah Valley
AUGUSTA REGIONAL FREE CLINIC
Arona Richard, President
PO Box 153
Fishersville, VA 22939
PHONE: (540) 332-5606
|
BAPTIST MEDICAL CLINIC OF GALAX
Deana Christley, Executive Director
PO Box 1708
Galax, VA 24333
PHONE: (276) 236-0421
|
BEDFORD CHRISTIAN FREE CLINIC
Don L. Craighead, Jr., Executive Director
PO Box 357
Bedford, VA 24523
PHONE: (540) 586-3711
|
BRADLEY FREE CLINIC
Estelle Avner, Executive Director
1240 Third Street, SW
Roanoke, VA 24016
PHONE: (540) 344-5156
|
BROCK HUGHES FREE CLINIC
Tamara Tolliver, Executive Director
100 Edgemont Road
Wytheville, VA 24382
PHONE: (276) 223-0558
|
CHARLOTTESVILLE FREE CLINIC
Erika Viccellio, MEd, Executive Director
1138 Rose Hill Drive, #200
Charlottesville, VA 22903
PHONE: (434) 296-5525
|
FREE CLINIC OF PULASKI COUNTY
Cindy M. Umberger, Executive Director
PO Box 1088
Pulaski, VA 24301
PHONE: (540) 980-0922
|
FREE CLINIC OF THE NEW RIVER
VALLEY
Richard Pantaleo, Executive Director
PO Box 371
Christiansburg, VA 24068
PHONE: (540) 381-0820
|
FREE MEDICAL CLINIC OF NORTHERN
SHENANDOAH VALLEY
Jean Lee, Executive Director
PO Box 44
Winchester, VA 22604
PHONE: (540) 662-2130
|
HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM FREE
CLINIC
Elly Swecker, Executive Director
25 West Water Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
PHONE: (540) 433-5431
|
RESCUE MISSION HEALTH CARE CENTER
Joy Sylvester-Johnson, Executive Director
PO Box 11525
Roanoke, VA 24022
PHONE: (540) 777-7671
|
ROCKBRIDGE AREA FREE CLINIC
Suzanne Sheridan, Executive Director
PO Box 1573
Lexington, VA 24450
PHONE: (540) 464-8700
|
ST. LUKE COMMUNITY CLINIC
Marge Rowe, Executive Director
316 North Royal Avenue
Front Royal, VA 22630
PHONE: (540) 636-4325
|
Virginia
Association of Free
Clinics
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