In White County, GA, there is one doctor physician for nearly 4,000 residents. That’s more than four times the national average of 631 per physician. That’s why, without our partner, Community Helping Hands Clinic (CHHC) in Cleveland, Georgia, hundreds of low-income residents in the area without insurance would not be able to receive much-needed, and potentially life-saving medical care.
As the only free health clinic in a county with no hospital, CHHC provides caring and high-quality care to local residents for a variety of primary care conditions. Many of the medical professionals volunteer their time and talents.
In addition, CHHC provides patients access to low-cost medications and prescription assistance programs, as well as free diabetic supplies.
Grant funding to CHHC, made possible by the supporters of Americans Helping Americans®, makes up roughly one-third of the costs for treatment expenses such as diagnostic tests and supplies, employee salaries, building occupancy costs, and general office expenses.
In addition, the funds also enable the clinic to serve as a training site for 32 physician assistants (PA) from Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia.
“The assistance of the PA students allows the clinic to expand its services,” Gene commented. “They help in various ways, including check-in, EKG, drawing blood, meeting with doctors and patients, and patient data collection.”
Gene White, Clinic Director, told us that grant funding from Americans Helping Americans® is needed more than ever as “The demand for medical services for the uninsured county residents has been increasing.”
Among those who have been a patient at the clinic for “some time” is “Sam” who was suffering from numerous health problems, one of which was gout (a common form of inflammatory arthritis that is very painful).
In his most recent visit to the clinic, “his gout was getting much worse,” Gene reported. “The clinic doctor determined that he was having a reaction to one of his current medications.”
The physician ordered a change in his medication, but Sam had no money to pay for it.
“Through clinic funding and our relationship with a local pharmacist, we were able to purchase the needed medication at no expense to the patient,” said Gene, adding that Sam is scheduled for a follow-up visit to the clinic to determine whether the gout problem is resolved.”
And to the supporters of Americans Helping Americans® who are helping enable CHHC to keep its doors open and provide medical services for Sam and hundreds of others each year, Gene says:
“We are grateful for the continuing support of Americans Helping Americans®. It is making a major impact on the health of low-income residents of our county.”
