The purpose of the Mercy Medical Clinic  is to reduce barriers by increasing access to healthcare and other basic needs for the uninsured and underinsured in the area.  In collaboration with local partners, including churches and community organizations, MMCF will provide free medical clinics and serve as a resource center for low income, unemployed, underinsured or uninsured members of the community.

Toombs and surrounding counties are rural with 23% of residents living below the poverty level making access to affordable medical care a growing problem. These patients have no means to access care except through the local Emergency Department.  Even then, transportation creates a major barrier for the poor and elderly to access basic medical and specialty care when available.   By offering the free clinics and transportation, many patients will be able to access necessary healthcare and have the opportunity to receive care management for their chronic needs.  Patients, known as our clinic “Friends and Family,” will also be referred to our Rural Health Network of Providers and will have the opportunity for free or reduced cost specialty care.

Mercy Medical Clinic opened as an outreach clinic in “makeshift” space donated by a local homeless shelter and recovery center on May 30^th, 2009 and welcomed 15 family and friends.  Staff included five healthcare volunteers.  The clinic has now been open once a month on a Saturday morning and has served over 60 friends. From its four outreach clinics thus far, Mercy Medical Clinic has arranged for 3 surgeries, given medication to 27 patients, and provided 53 local trips to office visits including 5 out of town trips to specialty care. 12 friends have been referred for vision care and 10 received free glasses.