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Providing healing and hope to the working poor |
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Newsletter for |
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SALUTE TO SERVICE AWARD Dr. Jim Wright, Free Clinic Board Member and Volunteer, was recently honored by the Medical Society of Virginia Foundation for his volunteer work at the Free Clinic of Central Virginia, Inc. and for Meds Help at the Free Clinic. Jim has volunteered his medical skills to patients since the clinic opened in 1987. He agreed to serve as a board member of the Free Clinic in 1993 and serves as such to this day. Jim provides a twice monthly diabetic clinic at the Free Clinic, attends monthly Board Meetings, and is always seen working at every fundraising event for the Clinic. I am sure many of you have seen Jim at Friday Cheers checking IDs on Free Clinic night, at the annual James River Basketball Tournament fundraiser, hosting a room at the Free Clinic Home during the Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour, and most recently at the James River BBQ Fest. Jim's passion for health care and pharmaceutical care for those under-insured and uninsured is ever present. In 1996, Jim was part of a group of concerned Lynchburg citizens who brought the Pharmacy Access Coalition to fruition. Today, sharing the infrastructure and fundraising efforts as part of the Free Clinic, the efficiency of such a merge will allow the program to serve more clients. When learning of the award, Jim was asked to submit a statement about service to medicine. It stands on its own: "Medicine provides to those initiated into its mysteries limitless opportunities to serve. The privilege that comes with our medical degree is matched only by the responsibility to use our talents and education in the service of others. There is a sort of perverse satisfaction that one gains from helping those who are most needy in our society while at the same time not having to be concerned about coding for reimbursement. Using ones talents to help people who are in truly desperate need, and to do it at no charge and without having to attend to the regulatory demands of third party payors, is the purest and most delightful form of medical practice. It is medicine for the doctor's soul." Jim Wright Join us in thanking Jim for his passion!!!! |
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FREE CLINIC OBTAINS SPECIAL GIFTS The Free Clinic received four special grants between October 22 and November 3. These were necessary contributions to enable the clinic to make its budget for FY 2004-2005. On Friday, October 22, Delta Dental, Inc, which is headquartered in Roanoke, announced a gift of $10,000 to support the daytime dental program in cooperation with the VCU School of Dentistry for 2004-2005. George Levicki, President, stated that support of indigent care patients was a "top priority" for their company. This was followed by a wonderful "surprise" gift on October 27 from Eleanor J. Taylor of Lynchburg for $10,000. This donation will be used for general operating expenses, and the Free Clinic Laboratory will be dedicated "In Loving Memory of James D. Taylor", her late husband. Attorney General Jerry Kilgore announced on October 28 that the funds from a Commonwealth of Virginia lawsuit settlement with Medco, Inc would be channeled to Free Clinics and Community Health Centers in the state. This decision will result in an additional $15,000 in support from the Commonwealth to this clinic in FY 2004-2005. It is designated for medication support for patients. Finally, on November 3, it was announced that the FCCV would receive an annual contribution of $10,000 from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to support general operating expenses. What a WONDERFUL period of FANTASTIC news! |
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NEW STAFF MEMBERS Welcome Aboard!! Shannon Franklin, CPhT, has been hired as the MedsHelp Program Coordinator. Ms. Franklin is a graduate of Amherst County High School and has worked as a Pharmacy Technician at CVS, Centra Health, and Tom Jones Drug. Shannon is engaged to Barry Jarvis, and has one son Devon. Lois Tomlin, who is a trained phlebotomist, joined the FC staff as a part-time receptionist in early September. She will assist Meme Garner with front desk operations while helping out with occasional phlebotomy work also. She is married to Michael and lives in Lynchburg. Betty Williams, R.N., B.S.N has been hired as a part-time clinic nurse II. In this position she will provide nursing services directly to patients, for the full-time nurse practitioner and for many volunteer physicians. She is married to Harry and lives in Goode. |
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THANK YOU TO STAFF
STUFFERS Robert Barlow Melanie Smith Jane Ayers Bill Hayes Bert Eisler Bill Brown |
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RX PHARMACY PROGRAM
In July, the Free Clinic of Central Virginia was selected as the first clinic in the Commonwealth of Virginia to participate in a new "virtual pharmacy" program, which is administered by the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) in Richmond. This program currently allows the clinic to order any medications FREE that are manufactured by Glaxco Smith Kline. Eventually eight more pharmaceutical companies will be participating in the free program by early 2005. It is a great honor to be selected as a participant, and it will be a great "cost saver" for the FCCV's medication budget. |
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ESTATE and STOCK GIFTS "COMING IN" Recently, two area individuals have notified the Free Clinic that it is "named" as a beneficiary of that person's estate. In one case this is a $100,000 amount, which will be placed in the Free Clinic endowment fund with the Greater Lynchburg Community Trust. In the second instance, the amount is to be determined at this time, but the gentleman does want his donation to be placed in the endowed fund. The Free Clinic often receives stock gifts from citizens in Central Virginia. In fact, there are three gifts being processed at this very moment. A donor simply needs to advise his/her broker to notify the Free Clinic regarding the amount and gift date. We will "do the rest," as the saying goes. |
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In the Spotlight BERT EISLER Mr. Bernard "Bert" Eisler, a Free Clinic board member since 1997 and a long term volunteer at the Free Clinic, MedsHelp, and Centra Health has "retired" from his position on the board. Bert has been recognized with an NCCJ Community Service award as well as the Karen Goodwin Volunteer of the Year Award at the Free Clinic. Bert has moved to the Baltimore, Maryland area to be closer to his two sons and their families after the sudden loss of his dear wife Meigh. The Free Clinic staff, board, and patients thank "Bert" for his fabulous service to others. We miss you Bert!! |
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L.A.I.F.A. GOLF TOURNAMENT The Lynchburg Association of Investment and Financial Advisors (L.A.I.F.A.) partnered with the Free Clinic in October for their annual Golf Tournament at the new Poplar Grove course in Amherst. Thanks to their efforts, which were led by Warren Otey, President; Robert Platt, Vice President; and Dean Nuckles, Golf Committee, the event produced $1,000 for the general operating budget of the clinic. The future plan is to conduct two, larger tournaments in May and October 2005 to produce more income to support the clinic. Thank you! |
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DEDICATIONS The Free Clinic has been very fortunate to receive two major individual gifts within the past year. Mrs. Eleanor Taylor made a $10,000 gift to the clinic in October 2004 in memory of her late husband, James "Jimmy" D. Taylor. The Free Clinic Laboratory will be named in his honor. Mr. And Mrs. D.W. Harrington made two $10,000 gifts to support the clinic in 2002 and 2003. The Program/Office Coordinator's area will be named in honor of Mr. D.W. Harrington, who passed away this past summer. A suitable dedication ceremony for both these wonderful gifts will be held in the next few months. |
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PLEASE HELP The Free Clinic Needs Your Financial
Gifts. |
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