Arlington Free Clinic, Inc.

Arlington Free Clinic (AFC) is a volunteer driven nonprofit working to build a healthy community by providing high-quality healthcare for residents who face significant barriers to better health – including people who struggle financially and do not have health insurance. By offering regular, comprehensive care focused on helping patients become and remain as healthy as possible, we are giving more Arlingtonians a chance to live a healthy life.

As Arlington's only provider of free, comprehensive care for low-income adults, AFC is clearly addressing the critical need for high-quality healthcare services for underserved community members. Unique to AFC’s approach is our holistic model (not only medical, but also mental healthcare, medications, dental, etc.) rooted in an understanding that poor health is both a cause and a consequence of poverty. Because our patients face social/structural challenges that negatively impact overall health, it’s critical that AFC provide access to top-quality healthcare – plus help navigating a range of local non-medical resources (e.g., food, housing, employment assistance) critical to overall well-being.

Primary strategies to respond to the significant health needs in our community include:

• Providing essential health services for community members who would not otherwise afford care

• Partnering with hundreds of talented and respected medical and lay volunteers and medical organizations to provide access to a wide range of diagnostic and treatment options

• Using a patient-centered model of care with high standards of quality

• Continuously innovating to optimize access, quality and efficiency

• Practicing sound stewardship to leverage the community resources that are invested in our clinical services

From the beginning, AFC has maintained a clear focus on mission and a commitment to medical, organizational and operational excellence.
Internal strengths include:
• Diverse, experienced staff of professionals committed to high quality, compassionate patient care

• Active, engaged, knowledgeable and supportive Board of Directors

• Strategic planning to ensure progress toward clearly defined goals

• Well thought-out program design and evaluation to ensure nationally accepted medical standards of care are being met/exceeded and that medical services are meeting patient/community needs

• Fiscal responsibility that includes an annual audit and active financial management by a Finance Committee that includes Board and community members and the Executive Director

• Resource development that is appropriately staffed, includes multiple sources of income and is transparent and accountable to funders

• Volunteer management that ensures volunteers are qualified, trained and appropriately placed

External strengths include:
• Steadfast support of volunteers and donors committed to making a positive difference in the lives of patients and the health of the Arlington community

• A broad network of physicians and diagnostic centers that provide pro bono care for AFC patients

• Active involvement and leadership in county and regional health initiatives created to strategically approach community health improvement

• Active participation in professional and community organizations including the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics, Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics, Arlington Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Arlington

• Volunteer Excellence - AFC continues to recruit and retain a remarkable cadre of over 400 volunteers who are integrated into all aspects of patient care and administrative and fundraising operations. Over half of our volunteers have been with the Clinic for five years or more. Volunteer retention is enhanced by clear job descriptions; meaningful, team-oriented work; flexible scheduling and ongoing appreciation.

• Comprehensive Care - AFC has successfully expanded services throughout our 20 years by adding programs to meet patient needs. Services include: primary care, on and off-site specialty care, pharmacy services, mental health, physical therapy and nutrition education. Access to dental care was implemented in 2015. One ongoing challenge has been a high rate of obesity in our patient population. Going forward, we will develop and implement a program to address obesity in our patients. We will also work with other organizations in Arlington to target obesity through cross sector community initiatives.

• Community Partnerships - Through long-term community partnerships with our community hospital (Virginia Hospital Center), medical practice groups and diagnostic facilities, AFC patients have access to free diagnostics and specialized procedures, including surgery and chemotherapy. By establishing and nurturing these effective partnerships, the Clinic provides comprehensive, patient-centered, coordinated care at minimum cost to the community.

• Permanent Clinic Facility - Several years ago, AFC relocated to a new Clinic space that we own. Located in the neighborhood where the majority of our patients live, AFC is now firmly rooted in our community. In keeping with our tradition of excellence, the facility was the first free clinic in the nation to earn LEED Gold status for sustainable design and construction.

• Health Technology – Virginia Health Center (VHC), our local hospital partner, recently added AFC to its EHR system (Epic) account. In addition to enhancing quality of care, Epic will reduce the inefficiencies of our current system and allow clinical staff and volunteers to focus on patient care. With Epic, we will have immediate access to patient data from our most important community partner – VHC – as well as partner facilities, freeing up our medical assistants to spend time supporting our patients.