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Greetings!
I recently had the occasion to review the Board of Directors meeting minutes from our first year of operation in 1993 - 1994. So much has changed in 20 years! Our clinic, modeled after the Bradley Free Clinic in Roanoke, and founded in honor of beloved Staunton Pharmacist Percy Willson, was one of 29 Free Clinics in the Commonwealth. During the first year of ARFC's operation, 606 patients were served, 1,818 visits were achieved, and 2,876 prescriptions were filled. The clinic was open only on Thursday evenings for patient care, projected expenses were $92,650, and there was one employee, Executive Director Pam Davies. Also in the meeting notes was the mention of a controversial health care reform package introduced by the Clinton administration.
In 2013, we will treat more than 1,600 patients, requiring almost 7,500 visits, and provide 30,000 prescriptions dispensed from our state-licensed pharmacy. We are open 34 hours per week, Monday through Thursday, with the tradition of a Thursday evening clinic still firmly in place. Dental services, which were offered at ARFC beginning in 2002, are provided five days-a-week by the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic in a state-of-the-art facility. Dental visits for underserved children and adults will number more than 8,000 this year. The combined clinics employ 30 medical, pharmaceutical and dental professionals, as well as support and administrative staff, and have a combined budget of $1.9 million. Today, 53 Free Clinics operate in the Commonwealth, providing care to more than 75,000 unduplicated patients.
For all the changes and growth two decades has brought, many things remain the same. Volunteers are still the cornerstone of our organization. Health care expenses continue to rise, especially pharmaceutical costs. Community donations sustain our operations, and the many beneficial and innovative programs we offer. And above all else, our patients receive the highest quality, compassionate care from a dedicated and amazing staff. And did I mention the controversial health care reform?
Yours in health,
Margaret Hersh
Executive Director
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