Phoenixville Free Clinic

TO PROVIDE QUALITY HEALTHCARE TO THE UNINSURED AND UNDERSERVED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

THE 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 21 YEAR HISTORY, WE HAVE PROVIDED 175,000 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 2022-23 FISCAL YEAR, WE PROVIDED 1,789 UNIQUE PATIENTS WITH 6,241 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. AS THE COVID RESTRICTIONS EASED, THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS WE SERVE CONTINUES TO INCREASE.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. DURING OUR 2022-23 FISCAL YEAR, WE PROVIDED 1,632 OF OUR PATIENTS WITH 5,622 LAB TESTS, 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. DURING OUR 2022-23 FISCAL YEAR, WE PROVIDED 713 CLINIC PATIENTS WITH SERVICES WORTH OVER $3M.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. IN CHESTER COUNTY, WHICH IS THE WEALTHIEST COUNTY IN THE STATE, 6% OF HOUSEHOLDS ARE LIVING IN POVERTY, AND 24% OF HOUSEHOLDS ARE CLASSIFIED AS ALICE. THE MAJORITY OF THE CLINIC'S PATIENTS FALL UNDER ONE OF THESE TWO DESIGNATIONS.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. 58.5% OF OUR PATIENTS ARE HISPANIC/LATINO AND 55.8% ARE WOMEN.