Providing healing and hope to the working poor

Newsletter
for
Fall 2002

KATHYRN CURRY JOINS FREE CLINIC STAFF

Ms. Kathryn Curry has joined the staff of The Free Clinic as the full-time Pharmacy Coordinator. She replaces Jennifer Rickman, who resigned to return to college to further her education in Environmental Studies. Kathy is a native of Central Virginia, and her family still resides in the area. She graduated from Rustburg High School in 1991 with an Advanced Diploma. She attended the Lynchburg General Hospital School of Nursing from 1991-1993. She received her Pharmacy Technician certificate in 1999. Kathy has thirteen years of Pharmacy Technician experience at CVS, Tom Jones Drug, Inc. and Virginia Baptist Hospital, Most recently she served as a Pharmacy Technician II at Lynchburg General Hospital. We welcome Kathy and her “weiner” dogs, Biscuit and Pepper to the Free Clinic family.

LIN TALIAFERRO – PHARMACIST-IN-CHARGE

Lin Taliaferro, retired Pharmacist from Jackson’s Drug Store, has served in the #1 pharmacy position at the Free Clinic of Central Virginia since 2000 and has been a volunteer since 1993.
Lin is a native of Lynchburg and
graduated from Dunbar High School in 1943. After a stint with the military in World War II, he went on to Duquense University Pharmacy School. He received his license as an RPH in 1951, and he returned to Lynchburg. Lin always has a great sense of humor, and he “fills in” at the last minute in the Free Clinic. We are very fortunate to have him as our Pharmacist-In-Charge.

NEW AND/OR UNUSUAL GIFTS

The Free Clinic Executive Director and Staff are continually amazed by the generosity and/or surprise gifts that come from the Central Virginia community. This summer we received a check for $134.53 from the children who attended a Vacation Bible School at Eighth Street Baptist Church, a $200 check from the Nursing Student Association at Lynchburg College, and $100 from an anonymous gentleman who walked in from the street. This was not the first time that he has left a contribution.

We also received a first time donation of $1,000 from the Episcopal Outreach Program (Amherst Thrift Shop) and a $10,000 anonymous gift from a Lynchburg couple. We received gifts-in-kind from the Petersburg Health Department (furniture and medical supplies) and $23,000 in asthma medications from the Johnson Health Center (Centra Health). The list could go "on and on". The gifts were all needed and they, among hundreds of others, are greatly appreciated.

NEW PANOREX X-RAY MACHINE ARRIVES  

Through the generosity of the Centra Health Foundation, the Free Clinic was able to purchase a $30,000 dental X-Ray machine in Spring 2002.

MEDSHELP AND FREE CLINIC FORM A PARTNERSHIP

MedsHelp, Inc. and the Free Clinic of Central Virginia, Inc. are negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding to share a twenty hour per week paid pharmacist position beginning within the next thirty days.  This partnership, which is funded by a grant to MedsHelp from The Virginia Health Care Foundation will provide multiple benefits to the two agencies.   Among them will be:

1. a shared pharmacy located at the Free Clinic for the Pharmacist to work in
2. a paid Pharmacist at the Free Clinic for 6-8 hours per week
3. extended hours for medication “pick-ups” by MedsHelp clients.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS

Over the past four months, the Free Clinic has conducted Health Fairs and/or Health Information programs in a variety of locations in sites located in the community. These have occurred in Lynchburg and the surrounding counties.

We have offered Health Fairs in Altavista (April), Amherst (May), Bedford (September) and will do a fourth in Appomattox (October). At these events we do BP screening, glucose testing, and cholesterol screenings for 60-85 people depending on the location. If abnormalities were recorded the clients have been sent notification of the problem and advised to seek medical assistance. Some have become Free Clinic patients. We also participated at a Health Information Fair at Westminster-Canterbury in Lynchburg in July.

Our Nurse Practitioner, Melanie Smith, whose position is partially funded by the Virginia Health Care Foundation, is making regular monthly visits to six senior nutrition sites in Lynchburg, Moneta, Amherst, Bedford, Appomattox, and Montvale. She offers instructional programs in a variety of health care subjects (Hypertension, Eating Habits, Diabetes, Insomnia, etc.) while also completing blood pressure and glucose screenings.

We plan to increase our outreach efforts in the next twelve months.

BISHOPS HONORED FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE FREE CLINIC

The Staff and Board of Directors of the Free Clinic honored Anne and Bobby Bishop at a special event at the home of Anne and Bob Barlow on July 14. In tribute to their years of service, the Staff and the Board each made donations to the Free Clinic in their honor. In addition, the staff gave Anne a collage depicting her fellow employees at the Free Clinic and gave Bobby a beautiful necktie with small toilets on it. The Board also contributed a gift certificate for a steak dinner for two at Crown Sterling

TWO GRANTS AWARDED TO THE CLINIC

The Centra Health Foundation has partially supported the Free Clinic with an award of $10,576 to support a Chronic Disease/Health Promotion and Education Project initiative. This program will be directed toward the development of better self-monitoring and self-measurement systems for 60 diabetic patients. The funds will be used for equipment and supply purchases, a computer purchase and upgrade, and personnel for updating and maintaining the necessary database to
support this program. The Greater Lynchburg Community Trust has designated a $9,000 allocation from a combination of the Rosalind and John Denney Fund and the Thomas P. and Lewise S. Parsley Fund. This assistance has been utilized to support computers, technical assistance, and the purchase of pharmaceuticals.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE HOME TOUR

The Smith Mountain Lake Home Tour will be held on October 4-6, 2002. The Free Clinic, Lynchburg Daily Bread, and the National MS Society (Blue Ridge Chapter) are among the Lynchburg area's beneficiaries this year.

You may participate in the tour either by car or boat.
For detailed information on the Home Tour, visit their web site at www.SMLCharityHomeTour.com or call 540-297-TOUR. Advance tickets, which are $20 each, may be purchased between now and October 1 at the following Lynchburg merchants: Tom Jones Drug, A Perfect Cut, Carlyle and Company, or Floral Creations. Tickets on the tour dates will be $25.

Take this opportunity to visit ten beautiful waterfront homes that reflect a variety of architectural styles while indirectly supporting the Free Clinic. These spectacular homes surrounded by the colors of autumn will give you inspiring decorating ideas to use in your own home.