Development of a Free Health Care Clinic in western North Carolina

Abstract

The purpose of this DNP project is to describe the development of a free health clinic in the western North Carolina community. The process will include the use of a community needs assessment to influence the formation of an inter-professional leadership team for the purposes of providing chronic and primary care to the underserved and uninsured of the community. This will include a clinic start-up checklist, budget overview, a cost analysis, and organizational strategies for this program for persons interested in developing a free health clinic. This paper will describe process for clinic startup, resource referrals, community partnerships, clinic relationship with a local academic medical center, and lessons learned during the process of development. Outcomes for this project will include demographics and number of patients seen, volunteer recruitment and retention, and a cost analysis after the first six months of operation.