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Providing healing and hope to the working poor |
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Newsletter for |
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MEDICAL SPECIALTY CLINICS The Free Clinic is very proud to offer to its patients a number of medical specialty clinics. These allow Melanie Smith, fulltime Nurse Practitioner, and our 50-60 volunteer evening "walk in" clinic physicians to make direct referrals to providing specialists at the Free Clinic itself. The Free Clinic also utilizes "referral slots" in private offices in the community. Dr. James Wright has provided endocrinology (diabetes) services to patients twice a month for eighteen years. In the past year, he has been joined by Dr. Patty Powers in order to be able to accommodate more diabetic patients. Dr. Jeff Wilson has provided rheumatology services for three-four years once a month. Prior to this, he had served a stint as an evening practitioner at the clinic. Dr. Bob Richards has given his time for around 9 years providing gastroenterology services; his regular nurse volunteers have been Arlette Stanecker and/or Hanna Burruss who have given their services for almost 12 years. Dr. Bob Bowden, and his long time colleague, Leta Hunter, R.N., have offered gynecology services for many years. Vicki Moore, F.N.P. and her office nurse, Donna Nickell, have been welcome additions to the GYN volunteer team for the past two years. Two other Free Clinic specialty services include: Physical Therapy services coordinated twice a month by David Titcomb and staff members of Rehabilitation Associates. Nutrition Counseling is provided by Mary Beth Rank, R.N., M.Ed. and Lesley McPhatter. Two podiatrists, Dr. Scott Zindell and Dr. Michael Overfelt have alternated offering their services for seven to nine years. Finally, a neurology clinic was added in February 2005, which is conducted by Dr. Charles Joseph. He is assisted by Marianne Storton, staff R.N. and Tracy Baker, volunteer R.N. In addition to these services at the clinic, there are over 100 other physicians in Central Virginia who provide "free clinic referral slots" in their own offices. Some of these offices include: Central Virginia, Piedmont, and Blue Ridge Orthopaedics, Cardiovascular Associates of Central Virginia, All Opthamology Associates, Hematology-Oncology Associates, All Surgery Associates, All Dermatology Associates, All ENT Specialists, Gastroenterology Associates, Nephrology Associates, Neurology/Neurosurgeon Associates, Lynchburg Pulmonarary Associates, and Seven Hill Urology Associates. In total there are over 200 physicians and 50 nurses volunteering in some way with the Free Clinic of Central Virginia. If you are currently being cared for by any of these very giving medical providers please thank them for their compassionate spirit in helping those in need. |
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FREE CLINIC NAMES ADVISORY BOARD The Board of Directors of the Free Clinic
of Central Virginia has announced the |
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VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION CEREMONY On Wednesday, April 27 the Free Clinic held
its annual volunteer recognition ceremony at the home of Georgia and Al
Delbridge. Executive Director, Robert Barlow, announced that all
volunteers would be receiving 2006 "Building Teamwork" Pocket
Calendars as soon as they arrived at the clinic. He reminded volunteers to
"please put the clinic on their calendars for next year." |
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NEW BOARD MEMBERS The Board of Directors has named two new
Board members who will begin their service immediately. They are: 1) Mary
Jane Pryor, formerly Prevention Services Manager at Central Virginia
Community Services. Mary Jane is married to Charles and has returned to
Lynchburg in the past year, and 2) Peggy Berger, Professor Emeritus from
Colorado State University. Peggy moved to Lynchburg to be near her sister,
Ida Powell. Both of these women have excellent skills and community
contacts that will help the Free Clinic move forward. |
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IN MEMORIAM
Dr. Joseph Levine, Mr. Bernard "Bert" Eisler, and Crystabel Harris, three dedicated volunteers died recently. Dr. Levine provided dental services to patients of the Free Clinic, as well as Johnson Health Center and the Health Department. He leaves his wife Lillian Link, F.N.P., two daughters, many good friends and hundreds of grateful patients. Mr. Bert Eisler, 82, died on May 3, 2005. Mr. Eisler volunteered at the Free Clinic and served as a member of its Board of Directors for 16 years. Mr. Eisler also volunteered for many years with the MedsHelp Program (before its merger with the Free Clinic) and at Lynchburg General Hospital. His wife of forty years, Meigh, who had also volunteered at the clinic, passed away in October 2004. Crystabel Harris worked as a volunteer in the front office for many years. Joe Levine(2004), Meigh Eisler(2004), Bert Eisler(2005), and Crystabel Harris (2004) will be remembered along with former Board Member, Sidney E. Sutherland(2002) on a new "In Memoriam" plaque for volunteers who gave so richly of themselves to serve others. It will be placed in the waiting room of the Free Clinic. Because of their dedication. The Free Clinic has benefited in so many ways from their selfless gifts of time and talent. We continue to be inspired by them to love mercy and to do justice. |
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DAYTIME DENTAL PROGRAM "ROLLS ON" The daytime dental program, which was initiated in August 2003, is nearing completion of its second full year of operation. It continues to meet a crucial need in the community, but the "wait time" to get an appointment has increased greatly since January 2005. In fact, the appointments have been as much as twelve weeks "out". This is primarily due to "word of mouth" publicity among patients about the program, which has resulted in a significantly increased demand for appointments. The final statistics for the second year (2004-2005) will be very similar to the first year (2003-2004) in all major categories. (i.e. number of patients, number of extractions, number of restorations, number of dental hygiene visits, etc.) This is a result of the fact that we have operated the dental clinic at full capacity both years. The number of patient visits will again be over 2,000. Dr William Riley continues to serve as the "Dean" for this program. In order to expand the program to better meet the needs of the community in 2005-2006, the clinic is planning to expand the number of operatories (dental chairs) from three to either five or six. If either local and/or state foundations fund this project, it is planned to increase services by as much as 100% some time in 2006. |
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MEDSHELP TO EXPAND The MedsHelp Program has completed a very successful first eight months as part of the Free Clinic offerings. The program has expanded by almost 200 patients in the past two months, and it will expand by another 400-500 by December 2005. This expansion is being accomplished selectively and carefully by using a waiting list, free clinic patients, and patients who are being served by Free Clinic volunteer physicians. There is also a pending grant proposal to open satellite enrollment offices and outreach educational programming in the surrounding counties. If everything continues to go smoothly, enrollment capacity will be opened up even further in 2006. |
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ELEVATOR ALMOST COMPLETED Thanks to City Council and CDBG funds from the federal government, an elevator has been reinstalled in the Free Clinic building. This improvement will enable services to be handicapped accessible on all three floors of the clinic. This flexibility will allow for the more effective growth of services for the patients who come to the clinic for their care. Special thanks are extended to Melva Walker, CDBG administrator for the city, who carefully guided the Free Clinic and its Executive Director toward completion of this important project! |
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CHURCHES and the SYNAGOGUE SUPPORT CLINIC & MEDSHELP Since the early years of the Free Clinic (late 80's and early 90's) and the MedsHelp Program (mid 90's), churches of every denomination have offered their support to provide medical, dental, and pharmaceutical services. This tradition continues today in an even richer way. Churches are not only contributing operational funds from their mission budgets, but they are offering unique "in kind" support. In the month of April, Heritage United Methodist Church under Reverend Steve Hundley provided light meals or heavy snacks to our evening clinic volunteers and staff. These persons usually work through their dinner hours to help others. Thanks to eight different families, who were coordinated by Donna Guiterrez, the clinic had sustenance for these persons every Tuesday and Thursday in April. A volunteer group from the congregation assembled and labeled our Spring 2005 Newsletter. The same church's members also made gifts of office supply gift cards/certificates from local stores, purchased medications at cost through a local pharmacist, and collected surplus medical and medication supplies for the clinic. A member of the Peakland United Methodist Church, Peggy Berger, had a toy box built and toys donated for the waiting room. Other members of that congregation have provided computer assistance (Jim Rupert) and pharmacy assistance (Nadine Gilmore). Richard Charles Gilmore has volunteered in the front office. The church also supports the clinic financially every year and designated its Lenten 2005 Offering to the clinic. Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church and St. Paul's Episcopal Church have also provided significant financial and volunteer support! The Free Clinic was physically located in Westminster Presbyterian Church under the auspices of the Rev. Dr. Robert Wilson from 1987 until 1992. This congregation has also provided regular financial support, and includes members who serve on the Board. The Presbytery of the Peaks supports the
clinic financially on an annual basis. The Agudath Sholom Synagogue has had many fine volunteers come from its ranks (i.e. Meigh Eisler, Bert Eisler, Joe Levine, Lillian Link, and Paul Kolodny to name just a few). Rivermont Baptist and Peakland Baptist contribute financially to the clinic. Suzanne McNeely, a member of Peakland Baptist provides volunteer services to MedsHelp three days a week. Timberlake Christian, Fairview Christian, and Memorial Christian Church are regular financial supporters of the clinic. The Episcopal Thrift Shop in Amherst
contributes financially to support the clinic, Also contributing are Rivermont Evangelical
Presbyterian Church, Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church, Covenant
Presbyterian Church, and First Presbyterian Church. First Presbyterian
Church is also represented by Jackie Hill, RN who has volunteered as a
nurse many years as well as served as a staff member. Lynchburg Jewish Community Council, Church Women United of Lynchburg, and The Kate Montgomery Circle at First Christian Church have all contributed to the The Free Clinic and MedsHelp. We are always more than willing to present a program to church groups or have you tour our facility. Please give us a call and ask what we might need and what we might be able to provide for you. |
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DAY OF CARING HELD The United Way's Annual Day of Caring was held on Wednesday, May 25. Volunteer groups from Lynchburg College and the Presbyterian Home painted the outside front of the clinic, mopped and wiped down a dusty basement area, and helped to spruce up and organize the pharmacy. These 19 volunteers contributed 57 hours of "in kind" labor to help the FC get these projects completed. We give thanks to them and their team leaders Anne Gibbons and Pat Price - Lynchburg College and Jennifer Phelps- Presbyterian Home. |
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MEDICAL SERVICES RESTRUCTURED In March 2005, the Board of Directors approved the restructuring of the Medical Services administration in two ways. Melanie Smith, Nurse Practitioner since March 1999, assumed the duties of the Patient Care Coordinator. Each member of the nursing staff Marianne Storton, R.N., Ardith Gillispie, R.N., and Ella Cashwell, Medical Assistant were given additional administrative duties. Everyone agrees that this model is providing better service to our patients while increasing the individual responsibilities of everyone in the medical services area. |
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NEEDED - GOLF GIFTS AND AUCTION ITEMS!!!!! If you have any golf gifts (i.e. balls, pictures, autographs, clubs, etc.) that we could "give out" at the Golf Tournament on Wednesday, July 20 at the Charity Tournament at the new and popular Poplar Grove Golf Course. Tax credit is available. We also need items (trips, a week or days at vacation homes, cars, art work, antique furniture, and jewelry) for the SML Auction on August 6 in Moneta. Tax credit is available. No donation is too small. Please call Bob Barlow at 854-4557 or leave a message. |
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SPECIAL RECOGNITION EVENT On Friday, June 17 the Free Clinic held a Special Recognition Event. Honored for their outstanding support to the clinic was the Robert S. Burruss Family. Mrs. Robert S. Burruss (Margaret) unveiled a plaque at the Nurses' Station recognizing their financial and personal support to the work of the Free Clinic. Also attending the event were Hanna Burruss & Hugh Whaley, Mary Burruss Ping, Becky Burruss Satterfield, and James Burruss. |
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BEDFORD COMMUNITY HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORT The Bedford Community Health Foundation Board of Trustees met on June 6, 2005 and awarded the Free Clinic of Central Virginia a grant of $5000.00 for health services for Bedford residents. We are grateful for their acknowledgement of the outstanding services provided to the residents of Bedford. Thank you! |
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FUNDRAISING EVENTS The Free Clinic of Central Virginia is continually raising funds through special events in order to help support its operations. These dollars are returned eight fold to the community in the form of medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and educational services. Some upcoming events include:
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PLEASE HELP The Free Clinic Needs Your Financial
Gifts. |
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