Welcome to (early) winter, Washington! And welcome to “7 Questions,” Meagan Ulrich, Executive Director of the Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic in Herndon, VA. The clinic offers a medical home to any and all of the over 80,000 people living in Fairfax County without health insurance. Read on to learn about the amazing developments that this organization has made just this year:
1. What was your most interesting recent project, initiative, partnership, or event?
In January 2010, JSFC moved to a new service center location called “Connections for Hope.” In addition to providing more space for the clinic and a more efficient layout, the new location provides partnership opportunities with other non-profits co-located in the same facility. Our new partners include Reston Interfaith, Vecinos Unidos, Literacy Council of Northern Virginia, Fairfax Community Services Board, and Just Neighbors.
2. What else are you up to?
In July, JSFC was awarded a grant from HRSA in partnership with George Mason University. This five year project (called the JSFC GMU Path Program) creates a faculty practice site for George Mason designed to provide integrated care for our chronically ill patients. Three Nurse Practitioner faculty members will see patients with students each Friday with a goal of serving 100 patients for 500 visits including primary health care, mental health assessments, medication counseling, and patient education. The program began on October 1st, 2010 and will continue to ramp up over the coming months in terms of patient capacity and breadth of services offered by the GMU participants.
In September 2010, the INOVA Diabetes Project conducted their second chart review of JSFC Diabetic patients. The clinic was found to meet or exceed NCQA standards of care. JSFC medical staff have been active participants in this regional forum to revise and implement quality care protocols for diabetic patients.
Over the past few months, JSFC has implemented its “Community Connections” program (with the support of the Community Foundation of the National Capital Area and Kaiser Permanente), which involves the expansion of our Patient Navigator position and increased hours for the Eligibility Coordinator. In addition, these grants funded a full-time Professional Counselor to the JSFC Staff. Te counselor, Grace Hipona, LPC, completes mental health assessments, assists patients in accessing a wide range of social services, and provides group and one-on-one counseling. By integrating her services with the primary medical care, the clinic is able to provide a more comprehensive level of service.
3. Is there a moment, person, or event that inspired you to do this particular work?
Jeanie Schmidt, the founder of our clinic.
4. Who is your hero in the nonprofit/philanthropy world?
See above!
5. What is the single greatest (and non-financial) challenge to the work that you do every day?
Securing the needed services for medically complicated patients.
6. What advice do you have for other people who want to work in your field?
Learn the needs of your community and how your skills can best fit.
7. What’s next?
Filling the gaps in health care reform. Even now, an estimated 22 million Americans still lack health care.