Roper St. Francis Healthcare Gives New Life to Free Clinic

By Kim Keelor

Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic (BIFMC) has provided care during more than 16,000 patient visits since opening its doors in April of 2008. The growing demands for the free medical services provided by BIFMC meant cramped quarters for the clinics administrative team and volunteer doctors, so Roper St. Francis Healthcare, a clinic supporter and partner, donated new offices in the form of a renovated mobile office building. Executives from the hospital system recently visited the clinic to see how it has grown.

“Thousands of people are healthier because of the caring, excellent treatment provided by the highly qualified staff and passionate volunteer doctors, nurses and clinicians who are dedicated to the people who need them most,” said David Dunlap, president and CEO of Roper St. Francis Healthcare. “We hope these new offices will provide the space they need to do the behind the scenes work that is needed to keep the clinic thriving. We are honored to be among many contributors to this clinic; a place that is now the medical home to more than 2,500 regular patients from our island communities.”

Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a medical home and continuing primary health care to uninsured adults living at or below 200% of the Federal poverty level on Johns, Wadmalaw or James Island. In doing so, the clinic addresses the ravages of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary disease, and depression that, if left untreated, result in expensive emergency room visits and inpatient, uncompensated care in local hospitals. BIFMC is a volunteer-run free medical clinic and currently has 31 volunteer physicians, 25 volunteer registered nurses, 17 volunteer interpreters, and 32 volunteer medical office staff that donate their time and expertise to care for BIFMC patients. Now in its third year of operation, BIFMC has provided more than 15,447 patient visits for 2,773 patients.

For more information on BIFMC, please call Brenda Falls at 266-9800 or email her at Brenda.falls@gmail.com. BIFMC is located at 3226 Maybank Highway, Johns Island.

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