The Orange County Free Clinic is celebrating a milestone. As of this month, it has been providing service to thousands of uninsured people for five years. But despite all it has accomplished, the clinic still faces tough challenges.
The clinic has grown from serving 86 registered patients in 2007 to currently more than 1,600, not including walk-ins. The economy has a lot to do with why the numbers have climbed, but surprisingly 20-somethings are seeking their services more and more.
Registered nurse Carole Roddy said, "We've had as many as 60 something people waiting outside the front door in the cold in the winter at the old facility."
From going from a one-room facility in the health department to having its own building, the Orange County Free Clinic has seen a tremendous amount of growth these last five years.
"It's just really remarkable, it's a fully functioning medical facility and we take people from all walks of life," Roddy said.
With the economy and layoffs hitting people hard, the clinic's demand is growing by the day, especially among 20-somethings.
"Many of our 20-year-olds have been on their parents insurance up to this point, but without a job and no insurance, that made it so they couldn't go to the doctors," said executive director Dorren Brown.
Nurse practitioner Jude Christian said, "Pretty much if you don't have health insurance, it's the ER"
The clinic says 20-year-olds have already surpassed the number of clients in their 30s and are just shy of reaching those in their 40s. A $50,000 grant from the Virginia Health Care Association has allowed them to hire a nurse practitioner and expand daytime hours to meet the need.
"You can't function without money and we don't receive federal funds, so we have to raise it, so the grant will really help," Roddy said.
Moving forward, the clinic also wants to expand more community education.
As far as community outreach goes, the clinic is partnering with the University of Virginia to provide mammogram screenings. It will also host a community fair on July 26.
