Almost 10 years ago, the Rhode Island Free Clinic opened in South Providence, aiming to serve Rhode Island’s poorest uninsured adults with a staff of all-volunteer physicians. The clinic has grown and is now preparing to expand substantially, but it can barely meet a fraction of the need, with more than 100,000 Rhode Islanders lacking insurance.

Board member and volunteer Craig O’Connor answered questions about the project.

PBN: How important is the issue of insurance in Rhode Island?

O’CONNOR: Lack of access to medical insurance contributes to health care costs and poor health at the national, regional, state, local and individual level. The impact can be measured in terms of lost income, decreased productivity, and increased federal, regional and state health care costs, and on the individual level, it can be dramatic. There are more than 130,000 persons living in Rhode Island who don’t have insurance but may have chronic health care conditions, and they may be sicker and live shorter lives due to a lack of preventive and maintenance health care.

PBN: How do free clinics address this problem?

O’CONNOR: Volunteer free clinics have emerged in a number of communities through the cooperative effort of not-for-profit hospitals, individual health care providers, volunteer providers and the community. The establishment of additional free clinics for the uninsured in Rhode Island will leverage available health care expertise to benefit the uninsured, make preventive health care accessible, and may also diminish morbidity associated with chronic health conditions for one of the most vulnerable sectors of the community. While free clinics will not be the solution to the larger issue of unaffordable health care coverage, it is one way we can help people until comprehensive systemic change occurs.

PBN: Tell me about your project.

O’CONNOR: Clinica Esperanza/Hope Clinic has been funded by a Rhode Island Foundation small grant and individual donations from the founders and board members. We have obtained a license and identified a site in Olneyville, but still lack the funding to complete the buildout. Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse has promised $150,000 in buildout funds, but we have to find a match for those funds from local donors or nonprofits. Funds to operate the clinic are already available through a community development block grant. Most important, we have 30 volunteers who are willing, ready and able to staff the clinic.

PBN: Who would the new free clinic serve, and what services will it offer?

O’CONNOR: Once we are up and running, CEHC will provide free primary health care to the uninsured, to keep residents of Olneyville and surrounding communities healthy (and out of the city’s emergency rooms). We will provide pre-employment physicals and establish two evening clinics and one afternoon clinic to care for the uninsured. We’ll also provide STD screening, immunizations, mental health services, cancer screening and nutritional education. We estimate that we will serve 1,000 patients in the first year and 2,000 to 3,000 when we are fully established. We have a five-year lease, and will eventually expand our capacity to serve about 10 percent of the uninsured in Rhode Island.

PBN: What are you doing to raise money and prepare to open?

O’CONNOR: The only obstacle we face at present is obtaining the final buildout price and funding the completion. We have a few things in the pipeline to help cover the rest of the cost – and of course are looking for more donations. We are also planning to collaborate with some local agencies to add complementary services, such as job training for neighborhood residents entering the medical career path, English-as-a-foreign-language training, and other related services that meet community needs. We’re ready and eager to start.