County residents get free medical help

Thousands of Flint residents lost their medical insurance when they lost their jobs in the recent economic downturn. Add sickness or injury to their dilemma and it would be overwhelming without help from the Genesee County Free Medical Clinic, 2437 Welch Blvd.

The clinic offers the same services as a family physician’s office. There is an on-site pharmacy. Patients are seen by appointment only.

To be eligible for services a patient must be a resident of Genesee County with income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, have no insurance of any kind and be between 18 and 65.

The clinic receives no federal funding but thrives because of community support and volunteers. About 45 area doctors, 65 nurses, eight pharmacists, five front desk personnel and maintenance workers rotate on a volunteer basis to serve over 3,000 low-income uninsured patients a year.

“It’s mission impossible if we didn’t have these volunteers,” Executive Director Dr. Rima Kudish said. “Without the support of the local medical community and three major area hospitals, the free clinic would not be a success story.”

With the help of McLaren Internal Residency Program, the clinic has doubled its capacity to serve the uninsured population. Internal medicine residents, supervised by attending physicians, provide three weekly sessions at the clinic.

Cardiologist Dr. Paul Lafia, from Regional Cardiology Associates, holds a hypertension clinic on-site. Many specialty care physicians from local hospitals as well as several dental offices see patients on a pro bono basis. The clinic work is governed by a board of directors which Dr. Allen Turcke, retired radiologist, serves as president.

Several years ago the clinic began to offer a prescription assistance program to its patients.

“Last year we received more than $427,000 in free medications from drug companies,” Kudish said. “We couldn’t afford to buy these medicines.”

Register Nurse Carolyn Fitzpatrick, the clinic’s coordinator for the past seven years, dreamed of becoming a medical missionary. “I feel like I’m helping people here. This is my medical mission and I didn’t have to leave home.”

Fitzpatrick tells the story of a patient who came to the clinic at Christmas time. “She worked all her life, then got laid off. She had never been in this situation before — without her meds. We were able to provide her with her medications free of charge. Several months later she was employed with medical insurance but never forgot us.”

“Every year, especially during Christmas time, the clinic receives many thank you notes from recent and former patients — and sometimes unexpected surprises. A couple of years ago a family of a former patient donated $1,000 instead of giving gifts to each other,” said Kudish.

Continuation of services provided by the clinic depends on the clinic funding. This year the free clinic became a recipient of several grants, including grants from local hospital foundations, Citizens Bank, the Ruth Mott Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield for $29,250 will support expansion of a partnership between the clinic and Genesee Health Plan with special focus on the uninsured with needs in immediate medical attention or medications.

Another major source of the clinic funding is the annual fund raising event, Healing Hands 5K Run/Work. It will be held May 15 at Mott Community College.

Call 235-4211 for more information.