How To Start a Free Clinic

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How To Start a Free Clinic
What actions are most excellent? To gladden the
heart of a human being, to feed the hungry, to
help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the
sorrowful, and to remove the wrongs of the
injured Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)
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Workshop Outline

• UMMA Community Clinic-Case Study
• Getting Started
• Planning for the future
• Resources and Links
• QA

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Case StudyUMMA Community Clinic
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UMMA Past and Present
?
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Services we provide

• Primary Care
• Chronic Disease Management
• Well-Child Visits
• Immunizations
• Health Education
• HIV/STD Testing
• Mammography
• Womens Health
• Ophthalmology
• Dermatology
• Social Services

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Our Patients

• Over 8,500 patient visits/year
• 73 Latino, 20 Afr.Am.,
• 60 Female
• 95 Below Federal Poverty Level
• Primary Diagnosis DM, HTN, Asthma,STD

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Medical Education

• UCLA School of Medicine
• Childrens Hospital-Los Angeles
• Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science

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Funding

• Current Budget 1,349,000
• Revenue by Payer Source

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TEN YEARS LATER

• Federally Qualified Health Center
• Consumer Board of Directors
• Public Policy
• Muslim Breast Cancer Study

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So You Want to Start a Free Clinic
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Uninsurance (IOM,2003)

• 40 million uninsured in America
• 80 under the age of 65
• Increase costs of premiums
• Eligibility Restrictions
• Less Access to regular source of care
• Diminished quality of life
• Developmental risks for children
• Decreased risks of life expectancy

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The Safety Net

• Emergency or Trauma Centers
• Public Sector
• Private Sector
• Community Based Organizations
• Free or Community Health Centers

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What is a free or community clinic?

• There is no one definition
• Grassroots,private,not for profit agencies
• Provide primary and preventive healthcare to
  medically underserved populations
• Services are
• Accessible (logistically and financially)
• Comprehensive
• Culturally Appropriate

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Before you get started

• What are you trying to accomplish?
• What is the guiding principle behind starting
  this clinic?
• What type of impact would you like to have on the
  community?

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You cant do it alone

• Create a Planning Committee
• 4 or 5 Dedicated Individuals
• Community Buy-In
• Technical Skills (i.e. Public Health, Law,
  Finance)
• Youth (MSAs, Students)

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Needs Assessment

• Who is the target population?
• What are the needs? Disease Burden?
• How do the disparities compare to other areas?
• How is healthcare currently delivered?
• DOES IT HAVE TO BE A PRIMARY CARE?

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Resource Assessment

• What resources are already in the community?
• Are there gaps in the safety net?
• Is there a free clinic down the street?
• Are there teaching institutions in the area?

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Institution or Project

• Independent or Collaborative
• 501(c)3 designation
• Advisory or Governing Board of Directors
• Malpractice (1997 Volunteer Protection Act)

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Services, Eligibility, Ancillary Services

• Are services determined by volunteer specialty ?
• How will you decide who is eligible to use your
  services?
• Will you provide or contract out for labs,
  medications, x-rays?

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Build it and they will comenot

• Is clinic location convenient for you or the
  population you will serve?
• Are there collaborative space sharing
  opportunities?
• Is the location accessible? Public transportation
  routes or physical barriers like freeways?

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Is this going to be expensive?

• Will you be eligible for corporate or foundation
  funding?
• Apply for seed or planning dollars
• What is your long term sustainable goal after
  your first fundraiser?
• Volunteer or Staff?

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Things to consider

• Think very carefully about your own independence
• Do not work in a vacuum. Collaborate from the
  very beginning!
• Diversify your board
• Plan Plan and Plan

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How will you know you succeeded?

• You can articulate the problem the clinic is
  solving through specific data and results.
• Clear idea of who you want to serve and how to
  reach them.
• You understand the local health care system, how
  it is financed, and who are the providers
• Community Linkages are STRONG

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UMMA Community Clinic

• Contact Information
• Yasser Aman, MPH
• President/CEO
• Email yasser_at_ummaclinic.org
• Phone [phone]

WWW.UMMACLINIC.ORG