Diabetes Transitional Clinic

Summary of Services

The Transitional Diabetic Care Clinic will provide low-income, uninsured diabetic patients with transitional care to stabilize their diabetes. This proposal will allow new and untreated diabetic patients to consult with healthcare provider volunteers who have a specific interest or specialty in diabetes, and to utilize a comprehensive care model which will allow patients to benefit from multiple providers in controlling and understanding their disease (e.g. diabetes educator, podiatrist, nutritionist, endocrinologist, etc.). This proposal will utilize community partners to ensure a primary care home following 2 months of care at the Free Clinic. 

All clinic services are provided by volunteers.

Clinic Times

Monday | Wednesday | Friday  9:30-12:00pm

Tuesday | Thursday  6:30 pm – 9:30 pm. 

Patients are seen during regularly scheduled urgent care clinics.

Patient Overview

Patients who come to the Free Clinic are required to have no medical insurance or medical coupons and live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. The Free Clinic is often a source of care for uninsured patients who need urgent diabetes care. A cross section of patients seen at the Free Clinic with diabetes include previously diagnosed patients in an Emergency Room setting who have run out of medications or do not have access to primary care; new diabetics who are diagnosed at the Free Clinic after presenting with a related or unrelated condition; patients who present with diabetes indicators after attending a Free Clinic health screening; or diabetic patients who have run out of medications to treat their conditions and need emergency prescription assistance.

45 minute appointments will be scheduled for diabetic patients once enrolled in the program.

Patients will meet for 15 minutes with a diabetes nurse educator and 30 minutes with an endocrinologist or other physician with a special interest in diabetes. Patients are asked to make a financial donation if they can, or offered a self-addressed envelope for a later donation. 

Volunteer Staff

• Endocrinologist or Internal Medicine (physician or other provider)
• Diabetes Educator

Volunteer Supervision / Team Leaders

   Patrick Callahan | Clinic Director | 360.313.1395

Clinic/Patient Flow

1. Patient check-in is conducted by the clerk and triage volunteers who are regularly scheduled to volunteer for urgent care clinics.
2. The Diabetes Nurse Educator (1) brings the patient to an exam room, measures vital signs, obtains a patient history, performs a diabetic foot exam (if necessary), provides glucometer training (if necessary), discusses nutrition choices and conducts additional diabetes education.
3. The Endocrinologist (1) or other physician volunteer examines and treats patient and orders necessary lab work.
4. The AmeriCorps Clinic Coordinator concludes the visit by scheduling the patient for a follow-up appointment or discussing primary care referral options.