PHOENIXVILLE FREE CLINIC

PHOENIXVILLE FREE CLINIC (PFC) IS A NONPROFIT FREE CLINIC IN PHOENIXVILLE THAT PROVIDES MEDICAL CARE TO UNINSURED RESIDENTS OF THE GREATER PHOENIXVILLE AREA, PRIMARILY IN CHESTER AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES. IN OUR OVER 23 YEAR HISTORY, WE HAVE PROVIDED NEARLY 200,000 PATIENT VISITS TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS. WITHOUT PFC'S SERVICES, UNINSURED RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY WOULD RELY HEAVILY ON EMERGENCY SERVICES AT LOCAL HOSPITALS AND GO WITHOUT PREVENTATIVE CARE, COMPOUNDING MEDICAL ISSUES AND LEADING TO CHRONIC DISEASE.DURING OUR 2024-25 FISCAL YEAR, WE PROVIDED 1,386 UNIQUE PATIENTS WITH 4,745 PATIENT VISITS. THIS INCLUDES BOTH PRIMARY CARE VISITS AND SPECIALTY CARE WITH OUR VOLUNTEER PHYSICIANS IN THE FIELDS OF PEDIATRICS, CARDIOLOGY, ALLERGY, NEUROLOGY, PODIATRY, GASTROENTEROLOGY, GYNECOLOGY, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, ORTHOPEDICS, PULMONOLOGY, DERMATOLGY, AND MORE. CLINICAL LABORATORY TESTS ARE CRUCIAL TO COMPREHENSIVE CARE IN BOTH DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. PFC OPERATES AN IN-HOUSE LAB AND ALSO UTILIZES LABCORP FOR TESTS WE CANNOT PROCESS IN-HOUSE, WHICH OUR PROVIDERS USE TO CHECK ORGAN FUNCTION, MONITOR THE PROGRESSION OF CHRONIC DISEASE, DIAGNOSE HEALTH ISSUES, AND DEVELOP TREATMENT PLANS.PFC AND PAOLI HOSPITAL CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS SUCH AS X-RAYS, ULTRASOUNDS, MRIS, CT SCANS, MAMMOGRAMS, AND OTHER STUDIES/CONSULTATIONS UNDER THE HOSPITAL'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CARE PROGRAM. THIS YEAR, PFC SUCCESSFULLY EXPANDED OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. THE CENTRAL GOAL IS TO PROVIDE ONGOING MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL SERVICES TO THE UNINSURED TO PROMOTE OVERALL WELLNESS AND PREVENT MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS SITUATIONS.DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMUNITY SERVED: THE UNITED WAY OF PENNSYLVANIA ANNUAL ALICE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS HOUSEHOLDS THAT EARN MORE THAN THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL BUT LESS THAN THE BASIC COST OF LIVING FOR THE AREA (THE ALICE THRESHOLD). CREATED BY THE UNITED WAY, ALICE, WHICH STANDS FOR ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONSTRAINED BUT EMPLOYED REPRESENTS THE GROWING NUMBER OF FAMILIES WHO ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD THE BASICS OF HOUSING, CHILD CARE, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, HEALTHCARE, AND TECHNOLOGY. THESE WORKERS OFTEN STRUGGLE TO KEEP THEIR OWN HOUSEHOLDS FROM FINANCIAL RUIN, WHILE KEEPING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES RUNNING. SINCE MANY PATIENTS DELAY MEDICAL CARE BECAUSE OF THEIR INABILITY TO PAY, PATIENTS SEEN BY OUR PROVIDERS OFTEN HAVE MULTIPLE MEDICAL ISSUES AND REQUIRE CARE FROM MULTIPLE SPECIALISTS, IN ADDITION TO PRIMARY CARE. THIS CAN PRESENT CHALLENGES WITH REGARD TO THE DELIVERY OF COMPREHENSIVE CARE, AND OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE OUR PATIENTS WITH SPECIALTY CARE AND ANCILLARY SERVICES LIKE LAB TESTING AND MEDICATIONS IS CRITICAL. OUR PATIENTS, IN TURN, FACE A MULTITUDE OF CHALLENGES AND THOSE HARDSHIPS WERE HEIGHTENED DURING COVID, WHEN MANY LOST THEIR JOBS AND EXPERIENCED INCREASED FINANCIAL STRAIN AND FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY. OTHER BARRIERS INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION ISSUES, LACK OF SOCIAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT, AND LIMITED TRANSPORTATION. PFC SERVES A DIVERSE POPULATION. OVER HALF OF OUR PATIENTS ARE HISPANIC/LATINO AND OVER HALF ARE WOMEN.