FRENCHVILLE – Since 2001, the Susquehanna Rural Free Clinic, located in Frenchville, has provided free outpatient medical care to more than 1,200 uninsured residents in Clearfield County and surrounding areas.
According to Medical Director Sister Karen Willenbring, M.D., the Free Clinic, which operates on a yearly budget of between $100,000 and $150,000, exists solely on donations from the local community, including church and civic groups, the Quehanna Lions Club, individuals and businesses.
One of the Free Clinic’s prominent supporters in the healthcare realm is Clearfield Hospital, which has provided in-kind donations of laboratory services to the clinic’s patients totaling $261,000 since 2002.
“If we didn’t have the laboratory services the hospital provides, we couldn’t operate this clinic. We have many patients who need routine lab work, especially patients diagnosed with diabetes or thyroid conditions. Partnering with the hospital to provide this vital service has been a positive experience,” Willenbring said.
Clearfield Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Kathy Simmons, who serves on the Free Clinic’s board of directors, said the hospital is proud to support the organization.
“The mission of Clearfield Hospital is to positively impact the health of all persons within our community. This collaborative effort between the hospital and the Free Clinic is one of the initiatives that helps us to fulfill that mission. We, as an organization, are committed to preventive care as well as the care of the ill and infirm. I am proud to be affiliated with both of these organizations,” Simmons said.
At the present time, basic family healthcare needs are provided at the Free Clinic, but someday Willenbring hopes to expand services to include specialty care.
“We are seeing more complicated cases. Many of these patients require multiple medications and need the expertise of specialists. I would love to expand our services to pay for our patients to see specialists, but that would require additional funding that we don’t have now,” she said.
Willenbring provided the following information about the clinic:
Who is eligible for care
Anyone without health insurance who also meets the financial criteria of less than 200 percent of the federal Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines is eligible. For example, a family of one could not exceed a household income of $19,600; a family of two, $26,400; a family of three, $33,200; and a family of four, $40,000. Patients must provide proof of their household income through W2 forms, tax returns, paycheck stubs, etc.
Services available
• Outpatient family practice office visits for routine health issues and illnesses for newborns through the elderly.
• Limited laboratory testing through Clearfield Hospital.
• Free medications to the extent that samples and funding are available. Patients will be assisted in applying for indigent medication programs through pharmaceutical companies.
• Limited counseling services.
• Eye exams and glasses for SRFC patients.
Willenbring said volunteers are always needed, especially nurses. Volunteers can choose to help based on their availability. Other volunteers needed are physicians, specialists to see Free Clinic patients throughreferrals, physician assistants, office assistants, accounting, maintenance and housekeeping.
For more information about the Susquehanna Rural Free Clinic or to find out how you can help, please contact 263-4050.