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Providing healing and hope to the working poor |
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Newsletter for |
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Free Clinic/ MedsHelp merge In June, the Boards of Directors from the Free Clinic and MedsHelp voted to blend into one organization. The actual combining of these two 501(3)(c) non-profit agencies will be gradually phased in over a 4 month period between July 1 and October 31, 2004. MedsHelp is a small independent program that has assisted 1,200 low income patients with medication support only, since 1999. The MedsHelp Program will become an additional component in the Free Clinic offerings, which already include medical services, dental services, medication services (pharmacy), and educational programs for persons without any form of health insurance. The 120 day "phase in" period will allow the MedsHelp program to transition their current patient load of 1,200 persons to one of four programs: 1) Johnson Health Center (for their Medicare, Medicaid, and/or other patients) ; 2) Medicare Card Program (effective July 1, 2004) or other approved Patient Assistant Programs for medications; 3) Free Clinic of Central Virginia, Inc. for patients without any form of insurance and incomes 150% or lower than the Federal Poverty Level; or 4) continue as a patient receiving assistance through the MedsHelp Program and seeing private physicians. The actual physical move of MedsHelp to the Free Clinic at 1016 Main Street will take place in late summer or early fall. The formal merging of the operating budgets is planned for October 31, 2004. The official date for the establishment of the new incorporated organization will be Oct. 31, 2004. Robert Barlow, Executive Director of the Free Clinic, will become the Executive Director of the merged organization in November 2004. Yolonda Johnson, FC Pharmacy Coordinator, will be promoted to oversee the MedsHelp component and staff. These changes will simplify the designated locations for medical services and medications for indigent persons. Johnson Health Center, a federally funded Community Health Center, will handle all persons with Medicare and Medicaid or on a sliding payment scale for medical services and related prescriptions. The Free Clinic will provide the same services for all persons without health insurance of any type, whose incomes qualify for services. In addition, the Free Clinic will provide dental services to its patients and qualifying Johnson Health Center patients. |
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VOLUNTEERS RECOGNIZED AT ANNUAL EVENT The Free Clinic held its annual volunteer recognition ceremony at the home of Al and Georgia Delbridge on May 19th. Ms. Arlene Banks catered the event. Recipients of the Karen Goodwin Award for their long-time service as medical and dental service volunteers were: Augustus Petticolas, D.D.S.; James Wright, M.D.; and Hanna Burruss, R.N. Each was presented a framed certificate recognizing their strong, reliable service as volunteers. Recipients of the Libba Hughes Award for their service as "lay person" volunteers were Sandi Kiger and Mary Lou Harvey, who have provided expertise to the clinic for a number of years in the front office. A "Lifesaver Award" was presented by Jane Ayers, Program Manager and Meme Garner, Receptionist to Dr. Murat Gezen for his willingness to fill in for other physicians at the evening clinics. A second "Lifesaver Award" served to honor Bill Riley for his role in recruiting dentist volunteers for the daytime program and his willingness to always "fill in" during weekdays for other dentists who were unable to make their assigned shift. All volunteers were given 2005 pocket calendars with the logo of the Free Clinic and the printed motto: "Teamwork: Together We Achieve the Extraordinary." |
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Pharmacists honored The first annual Pharmacist Dinner was held at the Free Clinic on Wednesday evening, April 28th. Oakencroft Winery from Albemarle County provided the refreshments for the social hour. Pfizer Pharmaceuticals "picked up the tab" for an excellent dinner of prime rib and chicken cordon bleu from Charley's Restaurant. A continuing education program for credit was conducted by John Ostrosky, Pharm D.,of Pfizer. Pharmaceutical company gifts and grants were provided by the following companies: Pfizer, Aventis, Lilly and Roche. All pharmacists received "certificates of thanks"; large jars of candy, and a bag of "goodies" from Yolonda Johnson, Pharmacy Coordinator. "Frequent Filler Awards" for those pharmacists who donated the most hours of services were given to: Lin Taliaferro, Edward Breslow, and Dan Secrist. Yolonda Johnson thanks all volunteers and staff members who assisted with the event. |
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DENTAL PROGRAM UPDATE A complete 9-month report on the dental program was submitted to the Virginia Health Care Foundation in late April 2004. The program is "still on target" to achieve its' goal of 1,500 patient visits by July 2, 2004. The Mentor/Professor dentists report that the quality of the student externs has been outstanding. The dental externs at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry are "clamoring" to get a chance to be able to extern in this clinic. Dr. William Riley continues to serve admirably and durably as the "Dean" of this program. |
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BREAST CANCER PROGRAM UPDATE This program, which started on February 14, 2004 and is funded by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, is beginning to achieve very positive results. Already in 2004, we have encouraged approximately 80 women to have mammograms versus a total of 56 in all of 2003. This includes 20 women who have used mammogram vouchers to get services at Centra Health, and another 60 women who have been provided mobile mammogram services at the Free Clinic. Over the next seven months, the plan will be to double the numbers already reported for 2004. The Free Clinic has offered four educational programs at sites in the community and one at the clinic itself. Marianne Storton, R.N., is the coordinator of this program. |
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Outreach Programs
Update The Free Clinic continues to offer outreach programs in the community. Major health screening and educational events have recently been held at the Jubilee Family Development Center in Lynchburg, Monocan Pow Wow in Amherst, and Uncle Billy's Day in Altavista. There is participation planned at Westminster-Canterbury in Lynchburg and the Nelson County Health Fair in July. In addition to these events, the Free Clinic has conducted breast cancer awareness programs and set up its informational services booth at 8-10 other locations in the community in 2004. |
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Office Assistants Join
FC Staff Two new part-time office assistants were offered positions in May 2004. Denice Bettencourt, who has worked with us for 30 hours per week as a job-training employee, will work an additional day with us on Fridays. Crystal Watts, a rising senior at Heritage High School, will work with us on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and evenings during the summer months. This additional office help will enable the FC to more effectively serve patients. |
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G.E. FINANCIAL/genworth WINS TOURNAMENT At the James River Charity Basketball Tournament,
which was held at Lynchburg College and Randolph Macon Woman's College on
March 20-21, there were 11 different corporate teams that competed for the
Championship in a double elimination format. The G.E. Financial/Genworth
team defeated Abbott Labs by 40-28 in an exciting championship game. In
the consolation bracket, Diebold slipped by AREVA (formerly Framatone) by
48-42 to claim the third place trophy. The Free Clinic of Central Virginia
at 1016 Main Street in Lynchburg was the beneficiary of over |
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"Awards and Citations" In October 2003, The Free Clinic of Central Virginia (FC) was recognized as an "Exemplary Program" by the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) for its new Dental Program in partnership with the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. This program uses dental student "externs" from the School of Dentistry to provide 63 appointment "slots" on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at the FC in Lynchburg. The "externs" are supervised by 21 volunteer professors/ mentors, who are licensed dentists practicing in Central Virginia. The program saw 289 different persons for 503 visits in its first four months of operation. In November 2003 - Dr. D. L. "Pete" Warren, Chair of the Fundraising Committee and a member of the FC Board of Directors, received the "Outstanding Individual Fundraiser Award" from the central Virginia Association of Professional Fundraisers (AFP). |
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FREE CLINIC RE-ELECTS OFFICERS The Free Clinic of Central Virginia at 1016 Main Street in Lynchburg has re-elected the following officers of the Board of Directors for 2004-2005. Those who will be serving another term are: President - Abigail Haney of Appomattox; Vice President - Kathryn Mays of Lynchburg; Secretary - Robert Flint of Lynchburg; and Treasurer - Stuart Turille of Lynchburg. |
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Greater Lynchburg Community Trust The Greater Lynchburg Community Trust (GLCT) will be
awarding $14,000 in new grant money to The Free Clinic of Central
Virginia, Inc. The support will come from five different interest bearing
funds within the GLCT: The William and Nancy S. Nelson Fund; the Kenneth
L. and Bertha S. White Fund; the Frances Cortright Stowers Charitable Fund. All of these families have been and/or are residents of Central
Virginia. |
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Needed Items The Free Clinic can always utilize "gifts in kind". Some items that would be beneficial include: a vacuum cleaner, digital camera, small rugs to cover worn areas, paper goods (plates, napkins, towels etc.), office supplies (paper, pencils, pens, clips, etc.), and sealed and unused medications. |
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BEDFORD COMMUNITY HEALTH FOUNDATION GRANT The BCHF has awarded a 2004 grant of $3,500 to the
Free Clinic. This annual gift will be used to partially support the
medical, dental, and pharmaceutical services received by residents of
Bedford County. In 2003-2004, there has been a significant increase in
Bedford citizens receiving these services - especially in the new daytime
dental program. In fact, since January 2004 twenty three new Bedford
dental patients have been served. Additional support from Bedford County
is needed to fully meet the needs of |
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BUILDING GRANT The Free Clinic has been awarded an approximately
$80,000 federal CDB grant after an April 2004 vote of Lynchburg City
Council. This funding will be utilized to restore the elevator in the
building in order to make all three floors "handicapped
accessible". This allows the Free Clinic to |
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WELCOME TO OUR SUMMER 2004 STUDENTS
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SPOTLIGHT ON THE STAFF Miriam (Meme) Garner has worked full-time as the Receptionist at the Free Clinic since January 2002. Prior to this assignment, she has worked as a part-time receptionist and volunteer at the Free Clinic since 1996. Meme is known for her sense of humor, regular laughter, and rapport with the patients. She and her husband, Pastor James Garner, are the proud parents of four children and the grandparents of three grandchildren. |
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upcoming events The Free Clinic asks your support at the following events in the months ahead. We will either be raising funds ourselves and/or receiving direct support from the event's income at the following venues:
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PLEASE HELP The Free Clinic Needs Your Financial
Gifts. |
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