PORTSMOUTH — A local family doctor is set to bring free health care to the greater Seacoast and Tri-City areas for those without health insurance or underinsured. And she hopes to recruit more people willing to help her make this business a success.
Dr. Reiko Johnson will begin her free clinics on January 1. 10 at the Cross Roads House in Portsmouth and the Willand Drive Warming Center in Somersworth. program, Volunteers in Medicine-New Hampshire (VIM-NH) is modeled on a national group of free healthcare clinics.
Johnson said she relied on her experience of volunteering for five years with a former free clinic in Hamptonwhich was founded by Dr. Jay Kaminski, ran for 18 years and closed in 2016.
“I learned so much by being there, watching and experiencing the free care that was provided,” she said, noting that the clinic operated outside a soup kitchen in a borrowed mobile van. . “It operated with very little funding, with little need for grants or big fundraisers. It had limited hours and scope so as not to encroach on other health care systems. … Nurses and social workers helped patients find resources and follow up Local hospitals donated services and supplies Providers were local doctors who came once a month in three-hour shifts, and it was very doable .
While initially the VIM-NH clinic will only be offered to clients of Cross Roads House and the Willand Drive Warming Center, Johnson said his hope is to expand free health care to more people and more of places.
Free clinic will add to health care for low-income people on Seacoast
Johnson’s plan is for VIM-NH to supplement the per diem work it is already doing to Grand Littoral Community Health. GSCH owns the first Mobile Healthcare van and serves low-income and underserved people who meet income guidelines and may not be able to afford medical care. In addition to primary care services, it offers dental and behavioral health services.
Coreen Toussaint, registered nurse and manager of mobile health services at Greater Seacoast Community Health, said the VIM-NH clinics will be a good complement to the services her team provides at mobile health clinics, including one at Cross Roads House, as well as services available at Families First in Portsmouth and Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth.
“The VIM-NH clinic can serve residents who are only available in the evenings,” she said. Johnson’s vision is that after providing comprehensive acute medical care during VIM-NH clinics, she would contact patients at Families First or Goodwin Health Centers for ongoing services. Thus, the VIM clinic serves as an entry point for patients to enter a medical home where they can obtain ongoing primary care, behavioral health, prenatal care, family services, WIC, and more. This partnership is a way to break down barriers for people who find it difficult to get medical services and get them regular, long-term care at the health center. We look forward to working together to help those in need. »
Johnson said an important part of their mission is to ensure patients have continuity of care, follow-up and connection to community resources.
“Since we are not primary care providers, we will refer patients to families first,” she said. She said Toussaint will also volunteer at the Cross Roads House clinic, which will help make those connections.
Necessary health care for the marginalized population of Seacoast
The leaders of Cross Roads House and the Willand Drive Warming Center say they are delighted to be able to provide medical care to their clients.
“I think it’s great to have medical supports that can go into the community and provide critical supports,” said John Burns, executive director of SOS Recovery Services, who is manage the Willand Drive Warming Center for winter 2022-23. “The majority of those we serve in an emergency heated shelter often find themselves unable to access traditional medical services and supports. … We hope that other agencies and social service providers will also collaborate to remove barriers access for our friends and loved ones who are vulnerable and marginalized It is refreshing to work with partners who put their heart and soul into uplifting our community.
Following:The Willand Drive Center is not a full-time shelter for the winter of 2022-23: will that be enough?
East Cross Roads House serving as a nighttime warm-up center for Rockingham County this winter season, adding to its mission and increasing the need for free medical care.
“We are delighted with this,” said Will Arvelo, Executive Director of Cross Roads House. “Before COVID, we worked with families first to provide health care to our residents. During COVID, this has become more difficult. We are working with them again and welcome this new connection. have no idea how powerful it is that our residents receive consistent health care.
Arvelo said Cross Roads customers are increasingly older people over the age of 60.
“They may have significant underlying health conditions,” he said. “Then there are young families with children. It is so important that this happens locally because many people here have mobility or transport problems. There is such a need for this service in the region of Seacoast, and we can’t wait to see that happen.”
Former Hampton Free Clinic Provides Model
Johnson said she founded VIM-NH in March 2021 after “knocking down” the Volunteers in Medicine America website during research. And he was inspired, in part, by his past experience at Hampton.
Johnson said the VIM-NH clinic at Cross Roads House, where she will begin seeing patients in January, is roughly based on the Hampton Free Clinic model. She said her plan is to start offering care on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, at times to be determined.
History 2016:Hampton Free Medical Clinic closes for final time
“I believe the sustainability of a free clinic is key, which is why we won’t be buying an expensive van,” she said. “Use existing space that is approved and used by the community – like shelters or community centers, this is where VIM-NH plans to see patients. We want to reduce…barriers to access for patients in care.”
The objective of VIM-NH is to create a mobile health unit or team that will travel to areas with high needs.
Johnson said she would provide emergency care-type services such as care for COVID, strep, flu and other respiratory illnesses. It will treat infections, asthma, hypertension and other chronic diseases.
She said primary care provided to children and adults can include:
- Acute problems such as respiratory infections, basic sutures and rashes.
- Chronic disease management including hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and gout
- Treatment of musculoskeletal injuries or conditions.
- assessment and treatment of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression;
- Physics at work and school.
- Administrations of vaccines, such as the COVID vaccine, tetanus and flu shots.
- Point-of-care lab tests including urinalysis, pregnancy test, blood sugar, HgA1c, rapid strep, rapid COVID test and rapid flu test.
- Pharmacy services to meet basic formulary drug needs; vouchers for local pharmacies to reduce patient drug costs.
- Admission for referrals to existing resources, such as initiating health insurance applications, food stamps, and other community organizations.
What help do volunteers need at NH medical clinics?
Johnson said she had assembled a great team to start with, but was still looking for help. She welcomes more volunteers, donations of basic medical supplies and even funds to help support the free healthcare mission.
“Our volunteer team consists of licensed healthcare workers and non-clinical volunteers to help with many tasks,” she said. “We were so lucky to have a great team from the start.”
One volunteer, she noted, is St. Thomas Aquinas High School Alyona Latsilnik, who is a licensed practical nurse, whom she has known for 10 years.
Johnson said that by using the VIM mobile free clinic model, her goal is to grow an active roster of licensed healthcare workers in New Hampshire who are willing to volunteer their time and simplify the volunteering process.
“Many of us want to contribute, but don’t always know how or when,” she said.
Johnson said once she opens the clinic in 2023, her next goal will be to partner with dental colleagues.
“We get frequent visits involving dental issues — like pain, abscesses, and difficulty finding a dentist,” Johnson said. Across the country, medical clinic volunteers team up with fellow dentists and provide free dental care to patients in need. It would be amazing to offer a free dental clinic day every quarter in the near future. If there are dentists who would like to collaborate with let us know. Involving students would also be a great way to do this.
Johnson hopes his efforts are just part of a larger effort to bring health care to people who need it.
“I would love to see this become a growing movement, so to anyone who wants to get involved, I’m here,” she said.
Those wishing to volunteer can go to vimnh.org/volunteer for information. Johnson encourages anyone who would like to donate or help to email him at rjohnson@vimnh.org.
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