Residents in Meigs and western Washington counties will have greater access to free medical services thanks to a grant received by OU-COM’s Community Health Programs (CHP).  

The grant from the Sisters of Saint Joseph Charitable Fund will help expand the service area of OU-COM’s Free Medical Clinic, which currently visits Stewart to deliver medical services such as exams, treatment and referral free of charge to uninsured residents.

“The expanded services the clinic will be able to offer with the grant are very encouraging,” says Sister Jane Harrington, director of the Sisters of Saint Joseph Charitable Fund. Part of the Sisters of Saint Joseph’s mission is to help underserved communities and families become healthier.

“We thought the program was pretty creative and highly collaborative,” says Harrington.

“We are very thankful for the Sisters of Saint Joseph giving us this grant, which allows us to have the opportunity to help the free clinic reach people who need the care,” says Kathy Trace, CHP and Area Health Education Center director.

“They liked that we were actually going out to communities where people had difficulties accessing medical care,” Trace says. “The numbers may not be huge, but we’re going to areas where care is  needed and where access may be a problem.”

The two-year, $50,000 grant will also be used to provide medications immediately after a screening. Trace explained that the grant is a tremendous help because even though  some patients may qualify for prescription  assistant programs, patients often wait a long time before receiving the medications.

To be eligible for the free clinic, patients must be 18 to 64 years old, have no health insurance and meet the program’s income guidelines. For income eligibility questions or to schedule an appointment, call (800) 844-2654 or (740) 593-2432.