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What is Rockbridge Area Free Clinic?

RAFC is a private, nonprofit, community-based organization that provides medical care at no charge to low-income, uninsured persons utilizing volunteers and partnering with other health providers.

Number of Unduplicated Patients treated in 2009 = 2000

Numbers of Patient Visits

In 2009, RAFC provided 6434 patient visits, including primary care, specialty care, dental care, patient education and social service visits.

Value of Service

Total program services provided by RAFC in 2009 were valued at over $4 million.

Top Five Patient Reported Reasons for Appointments

1. Diabetes
2. Mental health
3. Hypertension
4. Acute Illness
5. Dislipidemia

Prescription Services

RAFC operates a state licensed pharmacy. One part-time staff pharmacist and six pharmacists volunteers dispensed more than 28,000 prescriptions worth over $1.3 million in 2009.

Volunteers at RAFC

Over 150 people currently volunteer at RAFC. These include a variety of health care professionals and administrative volunteers. Last year volunteers provided over 6480 hours of volunteer service worth over $250,000.

Community Partners

Our Community Partners provided incredible medical care, diagnostic testing, and special services in 2009. Of note is Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital's provision of lab and x-ray services valued at $460,000. Augusta Medical Center and the University of Virginia Medical Center accept patient referrals for services that cannot be provided locally.

Locally, special services were also provided through other g roups and service providers such as Blue Ridge Physical Therapy, Blue Ridge Urological Associates, Blue Ridge Podiatry, Blue Ridge Dermatology, Consultants in Cardiology, Jackson River Internists, Lexington Orthopedics, Lexington OB/Gyn, Lexington Eye Care, Dr. Marc Hudson, Dr. Daniel Hwang, Dr. William Mears, Dr. Lewis Singer, and Rockbridge Surgical Clinic.

Many other local nonprofits collaborate to aid area residents. These collaborating partners include the Rockbridge Area Relief Association, the Rockbridge Area Transportation System, Project Horizon, and the Maury River Senior Center.

Other State and Federally funded programs and organizations, such as the local health departments, Community Services Board and the Department of Rehabilitative Services, assist in the delivery of service

Patients

In the Rockbridge Area, based upon 2000 census data, 51% of the population is male and 93% of the total population is white. RAFC patients are typically female (69% of the total patient population) and 15% have a race or ethnic background other than white. Over 84% of the patient population is employed, comes from a working family or is retired. All RAFC patients have total family incomes at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level which is approximately $44,110 for a family of four.

	New patient enrollment is defined as the number of people seeking Free Clinic services for the first time. From 2007 to 2008 there was a 14% increase in the number of new patients. From 2008 to 2009 there was a 38% increase in new patients. This does not depict the total number of people being served by the clinic on a regular basis. The clinic is currently serving approximately 2000 patients.
	Medical visits at the Free Clinic are provided four days per week and are delivered by volunteer and paid licensed health professionals. From 2007 to 2008 there was a slight 0.6% decrease (15 total visits) in the number of medical visits due to a decrease in the number of Thursday evening volunteer visits; however there was a visit increase of 4% for all other medical visits for the same period. From 2008 to 2009 there was a 7% increase in the number of medical visits provided.
	The dramatic growth in dental visits and services is due in large part to the four chair dental suite that opened in the RAFC building in January 2008. Prior to that, the Free Clinic dental program operated out of the two chair dental suite located at the Lexington Health Department. The new four-chair suite offered more room and greater flexibility for the dental volunteers. From 2007 to 2008 there was a 126% increase in dental visits and a 100% increase in hygiene visits. From 2008 to 2009 there was a 90% increase in dental visits and a 10% increase in hygiene visits.
	The values for prescriptions filled represent the number of prescriptions filled at the state licensed RAFC pharmacy. From 2007 to 2008 prescription fills rose 0.6% and from 2008 to 2009 fills rose 8%. The RAFC pharmacy does not provide narcotic or barbiturate medications.