Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic

Case for Support

Our patients are primarily the working poor. By implementing the Free Clinic Model of low-cost, volunteer-driven medical care, we are creating healthier workers and a healthier community.

These health benefits lessen the degree of poverty experienced by 11% of the 53,000 people of these three islands who live below the Federal Poverty Guidelines and the 22% living below 200% of these guidelines.

The sickest, uninsured patients are receiving their primary care in the emergency room (ER) all over the country. The 2010 cost of unfunded ER visits for primary care at Roper Saint Francis’ four sites was $8,300,000 and at MUSC was $2,700,000. The 2010 average cost of a primary care visit in a South Carolina ER was $2,048.

The clinic cost to provide a primary care visit is $69. We submit that unfunded primary care visits should occur in our Clinic, rather than the emergency room.

With the U.S. economy declining and job losses increasing, Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic is committed to positioning our organization to respond by providing a primary care medical home to those who have lost their jobs and insurance and cannot afford their medical care. The clinic is funded by private donations, fund raising events and grants. No Federal, State or other governmental monies are used.

Fund raising costs and overhead is kept low. Of each dollar raised 87% is used for direct patient care.

Our patients depend on us. We depend on you.

Read our Full Case For Support

From Our Volunteers & Staff

From all of us at Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic, we respectfully request your support as the Clinic seeks funding to help us continue providing low-cost free primary care.

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