Free clinic

This article is about volunteer-based medical clinics in the US that serve uninsured and underinsured patients. For other types of medical clinics, see Clinic.

A free clinic or walk in clinic is a health care facility in the United States offering services to economically disadvantaged individuals for free or at a nominal cost. The need for such a clinic arises in societies where there is no universal healthcare, and therefore a social safety net has arisen in its place.^[1] Core staff members may hold full-time paid positions, however, most of the staff a patient will encounter are volunteers drawn from the local medical community.^[2]

Free Clinic of Simi Valley, Simi Valley, California

Free clinics are non-profit facilities, funded by government or private donors, that provide primary care, preventive healthcare, and additional health services to the medically underserved. Many free clinics are made possible through the service of volunteers, the donation of goods, and community support, because many free clinics receive little government funding.^[3]

Regardless of health insurance coverage, all individuals can receive health services from free clinics.^[4] However, said services are intended for persons with limited incomes, no health insurance, and/or who do not qualify for Medicaid and Medicare. Also included are underinsured individuals; meaning those who have only limited medical coverage (such as catastrophic care coverage, but not regular coverage), or who have insurance, but their policies include high medical deductibles that they are unable to afford. To offset costs, some clinics charge a nominal fee to those whose income is deemed sufficient to pay a fee.^[5] Clinics often use the term "underinsured" to describe the working poor.^[6]

Most free clinics provide treatment for routine illness or injuries; and long-term chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and high cholesterol. Many also provide a limited range of medical testing, prescription drug assistance, women's health care, and dental care. Free clinics do not function as emergency care providers, and most do not handle employment related injuries. Few, if any, free clinics offer care for chronic pain as that would require them to dispense narcotics. For a free clinic such care is almost always cost-prohibitive. Handling narcotics requires a high level of physical security for the staff and building along with more paperwork and government regulation compared to what other prescription medications require.^[7][8]

History

At the turn of the century, healthcare in the United States became privatized despite many efforts by President Roosevelt and others to establish national health insurance, causing the healthcare system to neglect the lower classes.^[9] Starting in the 1950s, there have been incremental reforms to offset healthcare market failures and to better deliver healthcare services to low-income and underserved populations, including Medicaid and Medicare. Since then, there have still been increasing inequality and issues in coverage, access, cost, and quality of healthcare in America.^[9] In the United States, free clinics are a way to address this inequality and lack of universal healthcare, and as part of a health safety net.^[10]

The modern concept of a free clinic originated in 1950 in Detroit and was named the St. Frances Cabrini Clinic.^[11] However, the first documented free clinic is considered to be the Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic in California which was started by Dr. David Smith in 1967.^[12] From there free clinics spread to other California cities and then across the United States, such as the Berkeley Free Clinic. Many free clinics were originally started in the 1960s and 1970s to provide drug treatments.^[13] Each one offered a unique set of services, reflecting the particular needs and resources of the local community. Some were established to provide medical services in the inner cities, while others opened in the suburbs and many student-run free clinics have emerged that serve the underserved as well as provide a medical training site for students in the health professions. From 1968 through the 1970s, the Black Panther Party established several Peoples’ Free Medical Clinics as part of their efforts to counter systemic discrimination against Black people in hospitals and private medical practices.^[14][15]

In 2001 the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) was founded in Washington, D.C. to advocate for the issues and concerns of free and charitable clinics. Free clinics are defined by the NAFC as "safety-net health care organizations that utilize a volunteer/staff model to provide a range of medical, dental, pharmacy, vision and/or behavioral health services to economically disadvantaged individuals. Such clinics are 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations, or operate as a program component or affiliate of a 501(c)(3) organization."^[16] In time various state and regional organizations where formed including the Free Clinics of the Great Lakes Region, Texas Association of Charitable Clinic (TXACC), North Carolina Association of Free Clinics, Ohio Association of Free Clinics and the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (est. 1993). In 2005 Empowering Community Healthcare Outreach (ECHO) was established to assist churches and other community organizations start and run free and charitable clinics.^[17]

In 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed as a reform that aimed to make healthcare insurance more accessible to low and middle-class families. Specifically, it subsidized low-income populations’ purchase of individual coverage. It also incentivized employers to provide coverage to low-income employees, and made it mandatory for states to expand Medicaid to include non-disabled and young people with incomes that were below 138% of the federal poverty line.^[9] Studies show the ACA has been successful in redressing inequality in the access to healthcare. In 2015, there was a “4.2 percentage point increase in full-year insurance for the poor and 5.3 point increase for the near-poor”.^[9]

However, the implementation of the ACA proved to be more challenging as some states chose not to enforce it. Additionally, the ACA does not support undocumented immigrants, which means that health care outside of the free clinic to those who are undocumented remain relatively inaccessible. The ACA also does not reach homeless populations. Barriers include this population's low healthcare literacy, the requirements of residency verification, their difficulty accessing/applying for social services, their access to transportation, and the fact that many healthcare facilities do not accept Medicaid.^[18] It is not yet clear if and how the Trump administration will influence healthcare reform, specifically the access to healthcare for the most vulnerable. Trump often speaks out against the ACA; some scholars worry that President Trump's 2017 executive order, which eliminated cost-sharing reductions in the ACA, will result in an overall decrease in the number of people who can access affordable healthcare, thus emphasizing the need for free clinics.^[19]

Patient demographics

Of the 41 million uninsured people in the United States, the 355 officially registered free clinics in the country are only able to provide services to about 650,000 of them. On average, free clinics have annual budgets of $458,028 and have 5,989 annual patient visits.^[20] In another survey of three free clinics, 82% of patients reported that they began using a free clinics because they have are uninsured, and 59% were referred by friends/family.^[21] A similar study found that 65% were unemployed with students making up 17%.^[22] There also seems to be little correlation between education or employment status and insurance coverage in free clinic patients.^[22]

Age Groups of Clinics^[23]

Age Group	%
0-18	0.6
18-44	29.4
45-64	67.1
65+	3.2

Free clinic patients are mainly low-income, uninsured, female, immigrants, or minorities.^[24] About 75% of free clinic patients are between the ages of 18 and 64 years old.^[24] According to another study, 70% of all patients 20 years and older make less than US$10,000 a year.^[25]

Income Groups at Clinics^[23]

Income	%
≤ $10,400	52.9
$10,400 - $41,600	45.6
≥ $41,600	1.5

In a 1992-1997 survey of the Charlottesville Free Clinic, the patient body consists largely of a low income working class that reflects the demographics of the Charlottesville area. Most of the patients reported that without the free clinic, they would either seek the emergency room or do nothing at all if they got sick. There has been a shift over the years from patients seeking urgent care to patients seeking treatment for chronic illnesses. Combined, these factors suggest that free clinics will require additional resources in order to meet the rising demands of their patient population.^[26]

In a study of the Miami Rescue Mission Clinic in Florida, the most common conditions were mental health, circulatory system, and musculoskeletal system disorder.^[27] The most common of the mental health disorders were depressive disorders and anxiety disorders.^[27] Throughout multiple studies about patient demographics in metropolitan settings, there was a higher than national average prevalence of mental health disorder, obesity, diabetes, and smoking in free clinic patients.^[22][25][27]

Common Medical Conditions at Clinics^[27]

System	% in patients
Circulatory	14.7
Respiratory (Acute)	6.15
Respiratory (Chronic)	4.49
Gastrointestinal	7.21
Genitourinary	5.44
Endocrine	6.26
Musculoskeletal	13.9
Nervous	6.15
Renal	0.12
Eye	3.54
Skin	6.74
Teeth	2.84
Mental health	19.3

Mental Health Disorders at Clinics^[27]

Condition	% in Patients
Depression	12.5
Anxiety	11.8
Bipolar Disorder	3.55
Schizophenia	2.48
Other	3.78

Operation and services

Some free clinics specialize in providing primary care (acute care), while others focus on long-term chronic health issues, and many do both. Most free clinics start out seeing patients only one or two days per week, and then expand as they find additional volunteers. Because they rely on volunteers, most are only open a few hours per day; primarily in the late afternoon and early evening. Some free clinics are faith-based, meaning they are sponsored by and affiliated with a specific church or religious denomination, or they are interfaith and draw support from several different denominations or religions.^[28]

Free clinics rely on donations for financial support. The amount of money they take in through donations to a large degree determines how many patients they are able to see. Because they are unlikely to have the resources to see everyone who might need their help, they usually limit who they are willing to see to just those from their own community and the surrounding areas, and especially in chronic care will only see patients from within a limited set of medical conditions.^[29]

Free clinics function as health care safety nets for patients who cannot afford or access other forms of healthcare.^[30] They provide essential services regardless of the patient's ability to pay.^[31] Hospital emergency rooms are required by federal law to treat everyone regardless of their ability to pay, so people who lack the means to pay for care often seek treatment in emergency rooms for minor ailments. These hospitals function as safety net hospitals. Treating people in the ER is expensive, though, and it ties up resources designed for emergencies. When a community has a free clinic, hospitals can steer patients with simple concerns to the free clinic instead of the emergency room.^[24] Free clinics can save hospital emergency rooms thousands of dollars. A $1 investment in a free clinic can save $36 in healthcare costs at another center.^[24][32] For this reason, most hospitals are supportive of free clinics. Hospitals are a primary source for equipment and supplies for free clinics. When they upgrade equipment, they will often donate the older equipment to the local free clinic. In addition some hospitals supply most or all of a local clinics day-to-day medical supplies, and some do lab work free of cost as well.^[33]

Medical malpractice liability

Free clinics can be granted medical malpractice coverage through the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).^[34] FTCA coverage includes health care professionals who are acting as volunteers. In addition it covers officers, board members, clinic employees, and individual contractors. Medical malpractice coverage does not occur automatically, each organization must be "deemed" eligible by the US Department of Health and Human Services. To be eligible the clinic must be an IRS recognized nonprofit, that does not accept payments from insurance companies, the government, or other organizations for the services it performs. It also must not charge patients for services. It may receive donations from anyone and any organization; the stipulation is that it may not receive financial reimbursement for service rendered, which by definition a free clinic does not.^[35]

The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 provides immunity from tort claims such as negligence, bodily injury, pain and suffering that might be filed against the volunteers of nonprofit organizations. Thus, volunteers working on behalf of a nonprofit free clinic are covered under the Volunteer Protection Act from most liability claims.^[36]

Individual states may offer additional legal protections to free clinics, usually under the states Good Samaritan laws. Free clinics must still carry general liability insurance, to cover non-medical liability, such as slips and falls in the parking lot.^[37]

Prescription assistance programs

Some pharmaceutical companies offer assistance programs for the drugs they manufacture. These programs allow those who are unable to pay for their medications to receive prescription drugs for free or at a greatly reduced cost. Many free clinics work to qualify patients on behalf of these programs. In some cases the clinic receive and then distribute the medications themselves, in others they verify that the patient is eligible for the program, and the medication is then shipped to the patient, or patient receives the medication from a local pharmacy.^[38]

Some free clinics sole mission is to help those who do not have prescription drug coverage, and cannot afford for their medications, to enroll in prescription assistance programs. Such clinics are known as "clinics without walls" because they dispense with the need to have their own building, exam rooms, or clinical equipment.^[39]

Dentistry

Some free clinics are able to assist with dental problems.^[40] This is handled either at the clinic itself, if the clinic has its own dental facilities and a dentist; or it is facilitated through a partnership with one or more local dentist who are willing to take referred patients for free. For example, a clinic might have ten local dentists who will each accept two patients per month, so this allows the clinic to treat a total of twenty dental patients each month.^[41]

Some clinics use a referral system to handle other forms of specialized medical care.^[42]

 

Stafford County residents watch a Germanna Community College dental hygiene student work on a patient during a free dental clinic sponsored by the school's dental program at the Moss Free Clinic in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Student-run clinics

Student-run clinics (SRC) are an increasingly prevalent part of U.S. medical school curricula, and they are designed to improve health-care delivery to underserved populations.^[43] The vast majority of these clinics are free-of-charge and they have been shown to result in high patient satisfaction^[44] The preventive medicine interventions offered at this clinics have been proved to have significantly high health and economic impacts.^[45]

Free clinics allow student volunteers to become more socially aware and culturally competent in their medical experience.^[24] Medical schools sometimes do not address social determinants of health or treatment of underserved populations, and medical students can use free clinic volunteering to learn about these issues.^[24] At free clinics, medical student volunteers learn to listen to the full history of their patients and treat them as a whole rather than a list of symptoms.^[46] Medical students balance the power dynamic between the patient and provider, acting as a patient advocate.^[46] Furthermore, students who are exposed to SRCs are more likely than their peers to continue to work with underserved populations after graduation.^[47]

An example of a student-run free clinic that addresses the social determinants of health treatment is one in the University of Washington, called Students in the Community (SITC). This clinic is the only student-run clinic to be run out of a transitional housing facility for the homeless.^[48] This clinic model speaks to the embrace by student-run clinics of the increasingly prevalent holistic approach to healthcare—one that considers the social determinants of health, such as housing, as shown through its housing-first model.^[49]

The Society of Student-Run Free Clinics (SSRFC) hosts a national inter-professional platform for student-run clinics. This allows the sharing of ideas, collaborate on research, information about funding resources and encourages the expansion of existing clinics as well as the cultivate of the new ones. The SSRFC faculty network works to facilitate collaboration between student-run free clinics.^[50]

Effectiveness

There are several proposed advantages to free clinics. They tend to be located in communities where there is a great need for health care. Free clinics are more flexible in structure than established medical institutions. They are also much less expensive - hence the title "free clinic."^[51] Due to their small size, their organization tends to be more egalitarian and less hierarchical, which allows for more direct exchange of information across the clinic. Unlike regular practices, they also attempt to do more than just provide healthcare. Some were created as political acts meant to advocate for socialized medicine and society.^[52]

However, they do come with their own set of problems. Many free clinics lack funding and do not have enough volunteers.^[53] This can contribute to a short availability of free clinics' operation hours, and can harm free clinics' ability to provide long-term, sustainable service.^[53] For instance, they are a solution aimed towards serving tens of millions of uninsured Americans, but they function solely on the spirit of altruism. Volunteers must be willing to be available during strange hours of the day and provide professional-level care all without the possibility of financial reimbursement. Additionally, the ability of free clinics to provide long term, sustainable service and maintain continuity of care for patients is questionable, considering the instability of funding and providers. One proposition towards overcoming these challenges involves the creation of a national foundation that officially assists and connects free clinics, allowing them to evolve as necessary.^[54]

In a national level survey of patients and providers at free clinics, 97% of patients were satisfied with their care, and a further 77% preferred it over their prior care.^[23] 86% of patients relied on the clinic for primary care, and 80% of patients relied on them for pharmacy services.^[23] When asked what they would do if the free clinic did not exist, 47% would look for another free clinic, 24% would not seek care, 21% would not seek care due to costs, and 23% would use the emergency room.^[23] We can analyze that the free clinic care not only satisfies the patient, but fulfilled their healthcare needs.^[55]

Location

 

Milan Puskar Health Right free clinic in Morgantown, West Virginia

Free clinics are usually located near the people they are trying to serve. In most cases they are located near other nonprofits that serve the same target community such as food-banks, Head Start, Goodwill Industries, the Salvation Army and public housing. Because free clinics often refer people to other medical facilities for lab work, dentistry, and other services, they may also be found in the same area of town as those medical facilities. Some clinics have working agreements with the other facilities that are willing to assist with the clinics mission. Being close to the other medical facilities makes it easier for patients to get from one to the other.^[56]

Contrary to a common assumption, currently existing free clinics were not necessarily established to respond to an increase in the number of individuals who cannot afford healthcare in a given community. The prevalence of free clinics in certain areas is due to the availability of financial and human resources. For example, being close to teaching hospitals, universities, and medical facilities makes it easier to find medically trained volunteers. Furthermore, the lack of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and other safety-net providers within a certain area often becomes the perceived need that motivates community leaders to establish a free clinic.^[57]

Most free clinics start out using donated space; others start by renting or leasing space. In time and with enough community support, many go on to acquire their own buildings. Donated space may be an entire building, or it might be a couple of rooms within a church, hospital, or another business. Because the clinic will house confidential medical records, prescription medications, and must remain as clean as possible, donated space is usually set aside for the sole use of the clinic even when the clinic is closed.^[58]

The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics maintains a database of 1,200 free and charitable clinics.^[59]

Location of Clinics^[23]

Region	%
Midwest	29.3
Northwest	10.8
South	54.7
West	5.3

Alabama

• Alabama Free Clinic, volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, medical assistants, and clerks, meet three days a week to serve those without medical insurance.^[60]

Arizona

• Shubitz Family Clinic, run by the University of Arizona College of Medicine, provides free primary healthcare services to uninsured patients in Tucson.^[61]

Arkansas

• WelcomeHealth, formerly known as Northwest Arkansas Free Health Center, opened in 1986^[62]

California

• Haight Ashbury Free Clinics - 1967, it was the first nonsectarian free medical clinic in the United States^[63]
• Berkeley Free Clinic, a free clinic in Berkeley, California^[64]
• UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project, a student-run free clinic in San Diego, California^[65]

Colorado

• The DAWN (Dedicated to Aurora’s Wellness and Needs) Clinic, student-run free clinic that serves uninsured adults from the Aurora community every Tuesday evening^[66]

Connecticut

• Americares Free Clinics, volunteers and donated services from area health care providers, including hospitals and diagnostic laboratories, in Bridgeport, Norwalk, Danbury, and Stamford.^[67]

Florida

• KNIGHTS Clinic, a free clinic in Orlando, affiliated with UCF College of Medicine^[68]
• Equal Access Clinic Network, a student-run free clinic in Gainesville, affiliated with UF College of Medicine^[69]
• Mobile Outreach Clinic, a free clinic in Gainesville, affiliated with UF College of Medicine^[70]

Georgia

• The Grace Village Medical Clinic, a State of Georgia certified clinic operating under the oversite of the Georgia Volunteer Health Care Program (GVHCP).^[71]

Hawaii

• The Aloha Free Clinic, hundreds of volunteer physicians treat patients Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. until noon, then from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Kalihi Medical Building off King Street.^[72]

Idaho

• Pocatello Free Clinic, established in 1971, one of the oldest free clinics in the United States.^[73]

Illinois

• UIC Student Run Free Clinic, fully volunteer medical student run weekly clinic that operates out of the Community Health Clinic on the West Side of Chicago.^[74]

Indiana

• Gennesaret Free Clinics, opened in 1988, serves thousands of people in the Indianapolis community^[75]

Iowa

• Iowa city Free Medical Clinic, a volunteer-based no-fee free clinic.^[76]

Kansas

• JayDoc Clinic, student-run clinic provides non-emergency urgent and preventative care to the uninsured and underinsured populations of Greater Kansas City^[77]

Kentucky

• University of Kentucky Salvation Army Clinic, a student-run free clinic in Lexington, Kentucky^[78]

Louisiana

• Love Heals Clinic, based in Baton Rouge, provides professional medical, dental, and vision services at no cost to underserved individuals and communities.^[79]

Maine

• Portland Community Free Clinic, provides healthcare at no cost to uninsured adults between the ages of 18 and 65 who live in southern Maine^[80]

Michigan

• Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic, a free clinic in Pontiac, Michigan^[81]
• The Health Unit on Davison Avenue (HUDA) Clinic, Detroit's Largest Free Clinic^[82]

New York

• Brooklyn Free Clinic, a student-run free clinic in Brooklyn, New York affiliated with SUNY Downstate College of Medicine^[83]

Pennsylvania

• United Community Clinic, a student-run free clinic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania affiliated with Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.^[84]

Rhode Island

• Clínica Esperanza, provides linguistically-appropriate, culturally-attuned medical care to uninsured adults living in Rhode Island.^[85]
• Rhode Island Free Clinic, founded in 1999 and is made up of community partners, volunteers and supporters.^[86]

South Carolina

• Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic, a volunteer-based free clinic on Johns Island, SC outside of Charleston.^[87]

Texas

• East Texas Community Clinic, a free medical clinic in rural East Texas that thousands of uninsured patients utilize^[88]

Virginia

• Health Brigade, a free clinic in Richmond, Virginia^[89]
• Moss Free Clinic, a free clinic in Fredericksburg, Virginia^[90]

West Virginia

• Milan Puskar Health Right, a free clinic in Morgantown, West Virginia^[91]

See also

• Community health centers in the United States
• Formulary (pharmacy)
• Health equity
• National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
• Nonprofit organization
• Rural health clinic
• Volunteers in Medicine
• Marvin Ronning
• Barbara McInnis

References

1. "Healthcare in the United States: The top five things you need to know". MIT Medical. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
2. "Why Med Students Volunteering at a Free Clinic is Worth More Than They Might Expect". Blueprint Prep. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
3. Smith, Noah (2021-05-25). "Free Clinics Ensure Care Throughout the Pandemic". Direct Relief. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
4. Kamimura, Akiko; Christensen, Nancy; Tabler, Jennifer; Ashby, Jeanie; Olson, Lenora M. (2013-08-01). "Patients Utilizing a Free Clinic: Physical and Mental Health, Health Literacy, and Social Support". Journal of Community Health. 38 (4): 716–723. doi:10.1007/s10900-013-9669-x. ISSN 1573-3610. PMID 23463329. S2CID 25540170.
5. Darnell, Julie (2011). "What is the Role of Free Clinics in the Safety Net?". Medical Care. 49 (11): 978–984. doi:10.1097/MLR.0b013e3182358e6d. ISSN 0025-7079. JSTOR 23053788. PMID 22005605. S2CID 19850125.
6. Tolbert, Jennifer; Drake, Patrick (2022-12-19). "Key Facts about the Uninsured Population". KFF. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
7. Friedman, Gordon S. (1974). "Free Clinics and the Law". Journal of Social Issues. 30 (1): 143–152. doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.1974.tb00704.x.
8. Rahman, Shams; Mirza, Abu-Sayeef; Stenback, Jennifer; Green, Shikerria; Mayers, Yeshuwa; Iranmanesh, Elhaam; Pribish, Abby; Islam, Saneeya; Woodard, Laurie (2018). "Burden of Chronic Conditions among Patients from Free Clinics: A Retrospective Chart Review of 2015". Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. 29 (3): 1011–1026. doi:10.1353/hpu.2018.0076. ISSN 1548-6869. PMID 30122680. S2CID 52039441.
9. Camillo, Cheryl A. (2016-09-01). "The US Healthcare System: Complex and Unequal". Global Social Welfare. 3 (3): 151–160. doi:10.1007/s40609-016-0075-z. ISSN 2196-8799. S2CID 168514271.
10. "Leading the Way to Health Equity". today.ucsd.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
11. "https://www.cabriniclinic.org/"
12. Seymour, Richard (1987) The Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinics: Still free after all these years, 1967-1987. San Francisco, California: Partisan Press.
13. Rubin, Rita (2017-08-15). "Half-century After "Summer of Love," Free Clinics Still Play Vital Role". JAMA. 318 (7): 598–600. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.8631. ISSN 0098-7484. PMID 28746712.
14. Nelson, Alonda (2011). ""Origins of Black Panther Party Health Activism" in "Body and Soul"". Manifold at University of Minnesota Press. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
15. Pien, Diane (2020-07-10). "Black Panther Party's Free Medical Clinics (1969-1975) •". Black Past. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
16. . nafcclinics.org. National Association of Free Clinics. Archived from the original on 9 December 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
17. "Reducing health disparities through community health center partnerships". www.wolterskluwer.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
18. Cousineau, Michael (1 June 2018). "How the Medicaid Expansion Has Helped the Homeless". Center for Health Journalism.
19. Ghazal, Marie; Rambur, Betty (February 2018). "Free Clinics and the Need for Nursing Action in Uncertain Political Times". Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice. 19 (1–2): 3–10. doi:10.1177/1527154418777864. ISSN 1527-1544. PMID 29790826.
20. Nadkarni, Mohan M.; Philbrick, John T. (2005-07-01). "Free Clinics: A National Survey". The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. 330 (1): 25–31. doi:10.1097/00000441-200507000-00005. ISSN 0002-9629. PMID 16020996. S2CID 20380812.
21. Keis, Rachel Mott; DeGeus, Linda Gifford; Cashman, Suzanne B.; Savageau, Judith (2004-11-05). "Characteristics of Patients at Three Free Clinics". Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. 15 (4): 603–617. doi:10.1353/hpu.2004.0062. ISSN 1548-6869. PMID 15531818. S2CID 11630384.
22. Arvisais-Anhalt, Simone; MacDougall, Matthew; Rosenthal, Michael; Congelosi, Peter; Farrell, Daniel F.; Rosenbaum, Paula (2018-12-01). "A Cross-Sectional Study Evaluating the Use of Free Clinics in Syracuse, NY: Patient Demographics and Barriers to Accessing Healthcare in Traditional Settings". Journal of Community Health. 43 (6): 1075–1084. doi:10.1007/s10900-018-0524-y. ISSN 1573-3610. PMID 29785703. S2CID 29155158.
23. Gertz, Alida Maria; Frank, Scott; Blixen, Carol E. (2011-02-01). "A Survey of Patients and Providers at Free Clinics Across the United States". Journal of Community Health. 36 (1): 83–93. doi:10.1007/s10900-010-9286-x. ISSN 0094-5145. PMID 20532596. S2CID 20019026.
24. Brennan, Virginia M. (2013). Free Clinics: Local Responses to Health Care Needs. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9781421408859.
25. Cadzow, Renee B.; Servoss, Timothy J.; Fox, Chester H. (2007-11-01). "The Health Status of Patients of a Student-Run Free Medical Clinic in Inner-City Buffalo, NY". The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. 20 (6): 572–580. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2007.06.070036. ISSN 1557-2625. PMID 17954865.
26. Nadkarni, M; Philbrick, J (2003). "Free Clinics and the Uninsured: The Increasing Demands of Chronic Illness". Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. 14 (2): 165–174. doi:10.1353/hpu.2010.0804. PMID 12739297. S2CID 10036530.
27. Zhang, Michael; Garcia, Alejandro; Bretones, Gisela (2019). "Demographics and Clinical Profiles of Patients Visiting a Free Clinic in Miami, Florida". Frontiers in Public Health. 7: 212. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2019.00212. ISSN 2296-2565. PMC 6688117. PMID 31428596.
28. Dunn, Linda L. (2009). "Making a Difference: Initiating and Maintaining a Faith-Based Free Health Clinic". Family & Community Health. 32 (4): 339–344. doi:10.1097/FCH.0b013e3181b91fc9. ISSN 0160-6379. PMID 19752636. S2CID 37097485.
29. "BD Supports National Health Equity Project for Free Clinics". Americares. 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
30. danielle (2019-02-15). "Free clinics: The little-known safety net of US healthcare | The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics". Retrieved 2023-03-29.
31. Kiesel, Laura. "Free Medical Clinics Might Save Millions".
32. FERTIG, ANGELA R.; CORSO, PHAEDRA S.; BALASUBRAMANIAM, DIVYA (2012). "Benefits and Costs of a Free Community-Based Primary Care Clinic". Journal of Health and Human Services Administration. 34 (4): 456–470. ISSN 1079-3739. JSTOR 23208391. PMID 22530286.
33. "Medical student honored for efforts to keep unused hospital supplies out of landfill". news. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
34. "Federal Tort Claims Act for Free Clinics". Free Clinic Association of Pennsylvania (FCAP). Retrieved 2023-03-29.
35. "Legal and Operational Guide for Free Medical Clinics" (PDF). American Medical Association Foundation.
36. Isaacs, Stephen L.; Jellinek, Paul (2007). "Is There A (Volunteer) Doctor In The House? Free Clinics And Volunteer Physician Referral Networks In The United States". Health Affairs. 26 (3): 871–876. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.26.3.871. ISSN 0278-2715. PMID 17485768.
37. Benrud, L.; Darrah, J.; Johnson, A. (2010-03-01). "Liability Considerations for Physician Volunteers in the U.S." AMA Journal of Ethics. 12 (3): 207–212. doi:10.1001/virtualmentor.2010.12.3.hlaw1-1003. ISSN 2376-6980. PMID 23140870.
38. Maddox, By Will (2022-11-15). "St. Vincent de Paul and the Power of Free Medicine". D Magazine. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
39. "The "clinics without walls" controversy". Integrated Healthcare Report: 1–9. 1993. PMID 10128312.
40. Anderson, Phil (24 March 2023). "Hundreds turn out for first day of free dental clinic in Topeka". WIBW. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
41. "Free dental clinic changes lives | American Dental Association". www.ada.org. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
42. "Creating a Sustainable Referral System for a Student-Run Free Gynecology Clinic". Association of Clinicians for the Underserved. 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
43. Simpson, Scott A.; Long, Judith A. (5 January 2007). "Medical Student-Run Health Clinics: Important Contributors to Patient Care and Medical Education". Journal of General Internal Medicine. 22 (3): 352–356. doi:10.1007/s11606-006-0073-4. PMC 1824759. PMID 17356967.
44. Ellett, JD; Campbell, JA; Gonsalves, WC (January 2010). "Patient satisfaction in a student-run free medical clinic" (PDF). Family Medicine. 42 (1): 16–18. PMID 20063215.
45. Arenas, Daniel J.; Lett, Lanair A.; Klusaritz, Heather; Teitelman, Anne M.; van Wouwe, Jacobus P. (28 December 2017). "A Monte Carlo simulation approach for estimating the health and economic impact of interventions provided at a student-run clinic". PLOS ONE. 12 (12): e0189718. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1289718A. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0189718. PMC 5746244. PMID 29284026.
46. Davenport, Beverly Ann (2000). "Witnessing and the Medical Gaze: How Medical Students Learn to See at a Free Clinic for the Homeless". Medical Anthropology Quarterly. 14 (3): 310–327. doi:10.1525/maq.2000.14.3.310. ISSN 0745-5194. JSTOR 649501. PMID 11036581.
47. Porterfield, DS; Konrad, TR; Porter, CQ; Leysieffer, K; Martinez, RM; Niska, R; Wells, B; Potter, F (May 2003). "Caring for the underserved: current practice of alumni of the National Health Service Corps". Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. 14 (2): 256–71. doi:10.1353/hpu.2010.0812. PMID 12739304. S2CID 201735481.
48. Moskowitz, David; Glasco, Jennifer; Johnson, Brian; Wang, Grace (2006-01-01). "Students in the community: An interprofessional student-run free clinic". Journal of Interprofessional Care. 20 (3): 254–259. doi:10.1080/13561820600721091. ISSN 1356-1820. PMID 16777793. S2CID 42308241.
49. Henwood, Benjamin F.; Cabassa, Leopoldo J.; Craig, Catherine M.; Padgett, Deborah K. (2013-10-22). "Permanent Supportive Housing: Addressing Homelessness and Health Disparities?". American Journal of Public Health. 103 (S2): S188–S192. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301490. ISSN 0090-0036. PMC 3908899. PMID 24148031.
50. Karczewski, H., & Yorke, A. (2023). Motivators for Volunteerism in Doctor of Physical Therapy Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Student-Run Clinics, 9(1). Retrieved from https://journalsrc.org/index.php/jsrc/article/view/341
51. Nadkarni, M; Philbrick, J (2005). "Free Clinics: A National Survey". The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. 330 (1): 25–31. doi:10.1097/00000441-200507000-00005. PMID 16020996. S2CID 20380812.
52. Stoeckle, JD; Anderson, WH; Page, J; Brenner, J (31 January 1972). "The free medical clinics". JAMA. 219 (5): 603–5. doi:10.1001/jama.1972.03190310033008. ISSN 0098-7484. PMID 5066806.
53. Garvin, John M.; Weiss, Gregory L. (1980). "Gaining Community Acceptance of a Free Health Clinic". Public Health Reports. 95 (3): 259–262. ISSN 0033-3549. JSTOR 4596290. PMC 1422725. PMID 7384410.
54. Kelleher, K (1991). "Free Clinics A Solution That Can Work... Now!". JAMA. 266 (6): 838–840. doi:10.1001/jama.1991.03470060100035. PMID 1865524.
55. Friedell, Sarah (2022-08-17). "'Filling in the healthcare gaps': The Free Clinics celebrates 20 years". The Free Clinics. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
56. Sequeira, Robbie (2023-03-11). "Free clinic to expand South Bronx services with new Longwood facility – Bronx Times". www.bxtimes.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
57. Darnell, Julie (October 2011). "What is the Role of Free Clinics in the Safety Net?". Medical Care. 49 (11): 978–84. doi:10.1097/mlr.0b013e3182358e6d. ISSN 0025-7079. PMID 22005605. S2CID 19850125.
58. "How to Start a Free Health Clinic". Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
59. "National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics".
60. Andrews, Casandra. "For Baldwin County's needy, Alabama Free Clinic is a medical miracle" (PDF).
61. "UArizona Health Sciences medical students give free medical care to underserved in dire times". KGUN 9 Tucson News. 2022-02-10. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
62. "WelcomeHealth in Fayetteville plans 10-year anniversary event". Talk Business & Politics. 2023-01-07. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
63. "Born in the Summer of Love: The Haight Ashbury Free Clinic Transformed Drug Addiction Treatment | UC San Francisco". www.ucsf.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
64. "Police Violence and the Creation of the Berkeley Free Clinic | UCSF Synapse". synapse.ucsf.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
65. "UC San Diego Student-Run Free Clinic Project". familymedicine.ucsd.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
66. "Student-Run Clinic Opens". medschool.cuanschutz.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
67. Schott, Paul (2022-10-27). "How an organization from CT responds to emergencies around the world: 'We're a trusted partner'". CT Insider. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
68. "KNIGHTS Clinic".
69. "Equal Access Clinic Network".
70. "Mobile Outreach Clinic".
71. "Free Medical Clinic | Grace Village Medical Clinic | Clarkston, GA". Mysite. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
72. Blair, Allyson (30 May 2020). "Free health clinic for uninsured is capable of treating patients statewide". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
73. "Pocatello Free Clinic and Idaho State University partner to provide no cost health care to Southeast Idaho". Idaho State University. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
74. "Home". srfc.org.uic.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
75. Hordges, Aleah (2022-04-07). "Free mobile clinic brings access to healthcare for people in need across Indianapolis". WISH-TV | Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
76. R, Libbie (23 March 2023). "Iowa City free clinic plans to use ARPA funds to expand current space and services". KCRG. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
77. "Medical students open food pantry for patients in JayDoc clinic". www.kumc.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
78. "College of Medicine Students Put Service Into Action at Salvation Army Clinic". UKNow. 2015-11-20. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
79. WAFB Staff (26 March 2023). "Dentists, other healthcare providers needed for free BR clinic". WAFB. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
80. "Home of the PCFC!". Portland Community Free Clinic. 2021-12-06. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
81. "Community garden run by OUWB students looks to sustain growth, raise funds". OUWB-News-Article. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
82. Rahman, Nargis (2023-02-06). "Community clinic hosts free health screenings in Detroit". WDET 101.9 FM. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
83. "Brooklyn Free Clinic". www.brooklynfreeclinic.org. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
84. "What We Do". UCC/HHBC. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
85. Clinic, Clínica Esperanza/Hope. "Clínica Esperanza/Hope Clinic Selected by FEMA as First COVID-19 "Test to Treat" site in U.S." www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2023-03-29.
86. "Brown med school students elevate health care for Rhode Island's underserved and underinsured". Brown University. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
87. Milner, Parker. "Free medical clinic seeking new patients in Charleston's hospitality industry". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
88. Watch, Kim Krisberg / Public Health Watch, David Leffler / Public Health (2022-10-04). "A Free Medical Clinic Opened in Rural East Texas. Thousands Poured in for Help". The Daily Yonder. Retrieved 2023-03-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
89. "Why Richmond clinic is giving free self defense kits to some patients". CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR. 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
90. Lance–Star, CATHY DYSON The Free. "After pandemic hiatus, Medicaid resuming annual recertification". Fredericksburg.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
91. Post, Ben Conley, The Dominion (2023-02-26). "Health Right clinic move on hold, Friendship House shutting down". Dominion Post. Retrieved 2023-03-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links

• Empowering Community Healthcare Outreach (ECHO)
• Safety Net Center/AmeriCares U.S. Medical Assistance Program