| In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Acts 20:35 |
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Health
In an
election year, this is a very popular word with huge
impact. How we define health in a traditional sense as a
state of optimal physical, mental and social well-being
seems far fetched for those in our community who are
struggling to find a way to buy medication, searching
for affordable office visits and trying to deal with old
medical bill payments. At the furthest end of that
continuum of healthcare is a group of patients who
cannot even struggle for affordability. It is this group
that all free clinics want to and have served for years.
Our
services are unique in that the clinic has a way to
change quickly to meet the oncoming needs of these
patients in our community. The Medical Ministry is part
of larger group of community health partners who have
forged a system of indigent health care. This group
consists of Mission Hospitals as a corporate partner,
WNC Community Health Services, Buncombe County Health
Department, Three Streams Family Health, Emma Clinic,
and other agencies and physicians (Project Access/BCMS)
who see patients without insurance. The commitment of
the Medical Ministry is to find and provide services
through volunteers to cover the acute medical, dental
and pharmacy needs of this growing uninsured population.
We depend heavily on our community partners for ongoing
care for these patients.
Free
clinics, and specifically ABCCM Doctors’ Medical
Clinic, provide not only doctor visits, medications and
referral for care, but give all of the community a
connection to measure the impact of services. We can
address the huge incidence of hypertension, asthma,
diabetes, obesity and mental illness since we sit at the
door of access to new uninsured arrivals to Buncombe
County and also to patients who have not found or looked
for health care. We can address the need for connections
that have to be developed before patients can pursue a
course that will impact their health. All things that
the ministry does has an impact on the choices that
people make about their health or improving their
health.
So
our intent is to forge a solid connection or friendship
with our community partners and our patients so that
concerns are shared. The outcome is that the whole
community begins that combined journey down the road
toward “health” and ultimately “well-being”. Join us in this journey and see first hand what a
group of dedicated caring people have been able to
change and accomplish.
Elizabeth Reeves, FNP, Coordinator
breeves@abccm.org
Volunteer Today
For more information on our ABCCM services
please email or call us at (828) 259-5300. |
