Every single person deserves quality healthcare, no matter their financial situation. Yet, not everyone has the ability to afford health insurance. Individuals may delay care because the costs are just not feasible.
On top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic induced health insurance changes. As such, some families are paying up to $20,000 for their healthcare deductible. While these families do have health insurance, they can’t afford the deductible.
That’s were a free health clinic option can be highly beneficial. “Our clinic serves adults 18 and over who do not have any health insurance or who are underinsured in the nine surrounding rural areas surrounding Stoughton,” states Tina DeGroot, advanced practice nurse at Stoughton Health.
What Services Does the Free Clinic Provide?
Per DeGroot, the clinic primarily covers three categories of services.
- Primary medical care, where someone can come in just as they would with a regular clinic to see a primary care provider. “We focus on chronic health management, immunizations or preventative care, whatever the patient may need medically,” she explains.
- Counseling services, which also includes couples counseling.
- Spiritual services. The free clinic collaborates with different religious leaders in the communities it reaches, as well as “non-traditional” medical professionals. “We really try to meet our patients spiritually where they’re at and try to help them find providers who meet their needs and how they define spirituality,” adds DeGroot.
Appointments are encouraged, but individuals can also walk in if need be.
What Types of Providers Are Available?
The clinic’s staff is small but mighty. It consists of three physicians (two internal medicine, one primary care), three advanced practice providers—DeGroot as a clinical nurse specialist, a physician’s assistant (PA), and a nurse practitioner (NP)—as well as a handful of registered nurses plus support staff.
“We often see the nurses and the staff learn more about our patients than we do. We also have a wide variety of different types of students who come through our clinic to help volunteer,” shares DeGroot.
Anyone who is interested in volunteering can find more information on the clinic’s social media (Facebook, Instagram) or call the clinic at 608-205-0505 to learn more. Currently, volunteers need to be at least 18 years old. The clinic actually works with some senior high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine.
“A lot of our volunteers come from word of mouth. People have come in and helped us out for six months or a year, but then their needs change and they kind of pass the torch on to friends and family who are interested in volunteering,” she notes.
Funding Opportunities Drive the Effort
Of course, volunteerism on its own is not enough to keep the clinic running. Providers rely on grant funding and other donations. DeGroot reports that two primary donors include the Bryant Foundation and Stoughton Health and Hospital.
“All of the diagnostics, whether that’s lab work or an x-ray or maybe a mammogram, Stoughton Health writes that off as a community service. They also help us secure medicines for our patients. If our patients live in the Stoughton area, a part of that grant is that they will pay for $1,000 of medications for our patients for a lifetime.”
The clinic also applies for external grants, such as through the National Association of Free and Charitable, the Department of Health and Human Services, or close to home with the Stoughton Area Resource Team. DeGroot explains this is an ongoing effort, but one she and the staff are committed to.
“We have to apply every year. So, we keep very good records on all of the great work we do, because that’s the type of data everybody’s looking for to be able to support our mission, vision, and values.”
