Community Collaboration
A message from Barbe West, Executive Director and Dr. Steve Ebert, Board President.
The need for health care for low income families and unemployed uninsured individuals contin
ues to grow in our community. The number of uninsured in Clark County has risen to 47,000, which is a 9% increase in one year. Consistent with the growth of the uninsured, the number of patient visits at the Free Clinic has also increased by 6.5 percent over 2009. We continue to turn away adult patients who have urgent medical or dental needs due to our resource limitations. For 20 years the Free Clinic of SW Washington has responded to the health care needs of the uninsured in our community. With your support, we will continue to meet these needs in collaboration with other safety net providers in Clark County.
A common question we are hearing in our community is “What effect will health care (insurance) reform have on the Free Clinic?” We are carefully monitoring the dialogue on this topic at the state and federal level. Implementation plans are yet to be defined in Washington State. As stated above, the rate of uninsured individuals is increasing and this trend is predicted to continue for at least the next three years. The Free Clinic is your community clinic for the uninsured and we will continue to serve the needs of these individuals until everyone has access to quality health care. As health care reform unfolds, our Board of Directors will modify the Free Clinic’s strategic plan to meet the changing needs.
The generosity of the people in our community makes the work of the Free Clinic possible. We could not provide the compassionate high quality care and service without the extraordinary gifts and support from individuals, organizations, foundations, patients and volunteers. You are helping us to improve the lives of those we serve.
Your donations, volunteer hours, and in-kind support are assisting our patients to regain their health so they can support their families, stay in school and ultimately make a contribution to our community.
Thank you for sustaining the mission of the Free Clinic to provide and facilitate access to free, compassionate, quality health care for children and adults who are otherwise unable to access such services.
