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Written by Elizabeth Martin
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Monday, 07 June 2010 13:09 |
 More than 46 million Americans are uninsured and ineligible for Medicaid, and the numbers are anticipated to increase by the time health care reform measures go into effect in 2014.
Given today’s economy, many have sought out free community-based health care clinics for everything from basic to chronic care. For the roughly 83 percent of patients who come from a working household–– many working two or three part-time jobs–– these free clinics are just what the doctor ordered.
IndependentNEPA spoke with Maureen Matiska, CRNP, a volunteer health professional with the Back Mountain Free Medical and Legal Clinic, in Shavertown.
“There is a big misconception about free clinics,” she said. “When people think of free clinics they envision the dregs of society. Most of those we treat are actually the working poor, those who don’t get health care.”
Most free clinics are private organizations and therefore are not supported by the federal government, although many have received stimulus funding from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. According to a report by the Center for Studying Health System Change, relying on state funding and private donations to keep going may not be enough.
Meanwhile, more free clinics are springing up around the country. The National Association of Free Clinics averages five calls a week from hospitals, doctors’ offices, and retired physicians who express an interest in starting a clinic. Dental care is one of the most in-demand health services in the U.S. More than 100 million Americans do not have dental insurance, nearly three times those without health insurance, according to a 2006 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The Back Mountain Free Medical and Legal Clinic is a faith-based facility, associated with St. Therese’s Church, in Shavertown. Director Ann Marie McNulty spoke to IndependentNEPA about free clinics in Luzerne County.
“Those of us who coordinate these clinics were contacted many years ago by the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO), which became aware of the work we were doing in the community and felt it was in line with their stated mission and goals,” she said. “As faith-based clinics were not incorporated, CEO offered to help us write for grant money and served as an ‘umbrella’ organization to administer funds which allowed us to purchase equipment and set up a basic formulary of prescription medications to extend the services we provide to the community.”
In order to meet patient needs, clinics rely heavily on unpaid volunteers to provide service. As such, Matiska noted that the Back Mountain Free Clinic is understaffed. Interested health care professionals should contact St. Therese’s Church, in Shavertown, at 570-696-1144.
For the convenience of our readers, IndependentNEPA has compiled a partial list of free and low-cost health care clinics in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties.
FREE Medical Clinics In Luzerne & LACKAWANNA CountIES
Back Mountain Free Medical & Legal Clinic
St. Therese’s Catholic Church, Shavertown
65 Davis Street (across from rectory)
Hours: Fridays beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Phone: 570-696-1144
Care and Concern Free Health Clinic
Located in the former Seton Catholic School
37 William Street, Pittston
Hours: Wednesday-registration from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Phone: 570-654-9923
Free Medical Clinic
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
316 South Mountain Boulevard., Mountaintop
Hours: Monday-registration from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Phone: 570-474-6616
The Hope Center at Back Mountain Harvest Assembly
340 Carverton Road, Trucksville
Hours: Monday 6:00-8:00 p.m. (will see children)
Phone: 570-696-1128
McAuley Clinic
Located in Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre Hospital
50 Roosevelt Terrace, Wilkes-Barre
Hours: every other Wednesday 4:30-7:00 p.m.
Phone: 560-826-3002 (leave name and phone number–– call will be returned)
McKinney Clinic
For the homeless only
39 East Jackson Street, Wilkes-Barre
Hours: Tuesday & Friday 9 a.m.-noon and 1:00-4:30 p.m. Thursday 9 a.m.-noon
Phone: 570-825-0881
Volunteers in Medicine
190 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilkes-Barre
Phone: 570-970-2864 (call for an appointment)
Wilkes-Barre Free Clinic
St. Stephen’s Church
35 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre
Hours: Tuesday, open at 4:30 p.m./every other Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Phone: 570-793-4361 (call for an appointment)
Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Center for the Uninsured
800 Linden Street, Scranton
Hours: Thursday 2:00-6:00 p.m.
Phone: 570-941-6112
www.lynx.scranton.edu/leahyendowment/lchfc
Jewish Family Service of Lackawanna County
Dental only
615 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 204, Scranton
www.jfsoflackawanna.org
Mercy Health Partners
Volunteers in Medicine Clinic
746 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton
Phone: 570-983-6500
Scranton Primary Health Care Center, Inc.
959 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton
Phone: 570-347-1065
www.scrantonprimary.org
Scranton Temple Health Clinic
Moses Taylor Hospital
640 Madison Avenue, Scranton
Phone: 570-340-2100
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