About the Clearwater Free Clinic
Since 1977, the Clearwater Free Clinic has provided problem oriented health care to low-income uninsured residents of upper Pinellas County by means of office visits, medications, lab work, x-rays, and specialty referrals. The Clinic, a volunteer driven non-profit, non-government medical facility, provides primary health care at no cost to those who do not qualify for government assistance and who cannot afford private medical care.
The majority of the patients at the Clinic are hard working people with limited incomes or low paying jobs. Their income excludes them from receiving government assistance, yet prohibits them from affording private health care or insurance. Without the aid of the Clearwater Free Clinic, these uninsured residents would turn to emergency rooms for non-emergent care, at a great cost to themselves and the hospitals. More upsetting is thatmany of the uninsured will often ignore significant health problems until a crisis occurs, not wanting to incur debt. This is where the Clearwater Free Clinic is able to help.
History
Officially established in 1977, the Clearwater Free Clinic was open one night a week and was located in a small rented house on Rogers Street. Early on, local churches and civic organizations helped with financial support and volunteers.
In 1985, seeing the need for a larger and more efficient facility, the local Kiwanis Clubs, various civic groups, and the community provided the funds to construct the Clinic's current building. The community rallied again in 1997 to donate monies, goods, and services in conjunction with a grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, to renovate and expand the Clinic. This grant, and a second one in 1999, were for construction and renovation only, and neither award was used for program or operating expenses. The Clinic continues to operate without regular government funding, relying on monetary and in-kind donations from private individuals, businesses, religious and community organizations, and charitable foundations.
Today the Clinic, a renovated 3,600 square foot facility, is located at 707 N. Ft. Harrison Ave. in downtown Clearwater, Florida and is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM until 6:30 PM and later if necessary.
A full-time grant funded Family Practice Nurse Practitioner began working at the Clearwater Free Clinic in January 2000, treating adults and incorporating pediatrics. With this position, the number of available appointments increased significantly.
Since its inception, the Clearwater Free Clinic has treated well over a hundred thousand needy patients, offering quality medical care at no cost to the patient.
Funding
The Clearwater Free Clinic is a a 501(c)3 tax exempt, non-profit organization and receives no regular support from the government or United Way. Private donations from individuals, businesses, religious and civic organizations, bequests, foundations, trusts, grants and fundraising activities are the Clinic's only means of support.
Along with public financial support and volunteers, the Clinic depends heavily on donated services. Local hospitals and radiology groups donate lab work, x-rays, and other diagnostic procedures. The Clinic's on-site medication room utilizes donated sample medications, but must also supplement the stock with purchases from wholesale drug companies.
The value of donated services for professional volunteer hours, lab work, and x-rays totalled over $1,850,000 in 2006, not including donated medication or the hundreds of hours donated by our non-licensed volunteers. This collaborated effort is what allows the Clinic to provide over 11,000 patient visits and distribute over 20,000 courses of medication each year to our community's uninsured residents on a limited operating budget.
Operations
An Executive Director and Clinical Director run the Clinic and coordinate over 100 volunteers, with the help of two additional staff members. Each day, 20 - 25 volunteer doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and office assistants staff the Cinic. An additional 70 community medical and surgical specialists agree to see Clinic patients in their offices with a referral from a Clinic doctor. These committed volunteers work together to provide the highest quality medical care possible, in a caring and non-judgemental atmosphere.
Board of Directors
The Clearwater Free Clinic's non-paid Governing Board consists.of residents of our community. Each board member is assigned an area of responsibility corresponding to his or her area of expertise, e.g. law, insurance, medicine, etc. Each one is committed to making the Clinic a model of efficiency and compassion.
Staff
The Clinic employs an Executive Director, a Clinical Director, a Clinical Assistant, an Office Administrator, and one Nurse Practitioner. These staff members coordinate over 100 volunteer physicians, nurses, paramedics, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and clerks.