The Free Clinic of Clinton County will be dissolving on Dec. 31, and the last day of service to clients will be on Thursday, Dec. 3.
The Free Clinic of Clinton County opened in December 2004. Located on Sugartree Street, it has provided free care to uninsured Clinton County residents. It operated with volunteer labor and utilized donated medical supplies and medications when possible, and it has had a weekly clinic every Thursday night since its inception.
The board of directors and staff of the Free Clinic feel the clinic has been an integral part of the community, especially during the years following the closure of DHL and the local economic downturn — that it has fulfilled its mission “to be a primary care access point for uninsured Clinton County residents. We will provide high quality services in a safe, comfortable, caring environment. We will fill unmet medical needs and link our patients to other community resources, whenever possible.”
Indeed, over these past 11 years it is estimated that the clinic has had over 11,000 patient visits. The staff and board are very thankful for the many individuals, businesses and churches that have supported the Clinic over the past 11 years so it is with mixed emotions that they announce they
The reason for closing the clinic has to do with several reasons, namely due to the dwindling number of patients using the clinic. Many clientele now have health insurance thanks to the Affordable Health Care Act or have started using Health Source of Ohio, which has an office here in the county and provides a much broader service than the Free Clinic could provide.
Health Source of Ohio provides the following primary care services: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Ob/Gyn, Dentistry, Behavioral Health, and Pharmacy. They also accept uninsured patients, as well as those with Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance. Health Source offers a discounted sliding fee program for uninsured or underinsured patients. Eligibility is based on income and family size. They are also able to be open five days week from about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., providing greater availability for the same patients that were typically served at the Free Clinic.
The Free Clinic will be hosting a “Farewell Reception” on Dec. 4 from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Free Clinic and invites all those who have had a connection with the Free Clinic over the past 11 years to attend and reflect on the many people they have served and to honor all those who made it possible.
