OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE GRACIOUS AND LOVING VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE OTHERS WITH PURPOSE, SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN TRANSFORM THE HUMAN CONDITION THROUGH WHOLE PERSON HEALTHCARE.

Transform the Human Condition

Goal One: Recruit Gracious & Loving volunteers to SERVE OTHERS with Purpose so that together we can Transform the Human Condition through whole person healthcare. Specifically, recruiting local prescribers.

Goal Two: Establish enduring & transparent mechanisms to sustain constant presence and continuous improvement in all services. Specifically, joining Network for Good will establish monitoring & accountability.

Goal Three: Recruit volunteer administrative help in the areas of bookkeeping, grantsmanship, and clinic nursing.

We attended a workshop on Collegiality which focused on "how" we treat each other and the effects that has on productivity and efficacy in the mission. We attended a conference specifically targeting Free and Charitable Clinic operations where we learned best practices as well as made important interpersonal contact and connections. We hosted three high school students through the year in a Medical Mentorship Program which gave students exposure to healthcare in the post-COVID environment as well as leadership opportunities to contribute to the mission of GHF.

The biggest external change was COVID-19. That had a direct impact on us, primarily in the delivery of services. Our free clinic serves a primarily homeless population, however, we also serve several families and individuals who are underinsured or not insured. When COVID-19 first arrived, we transformed our clinic space to add a virtual care room, where a volunteer could safely room a patient an initiate a video conference while the doctor could provide at least initial evaluation over the internet. About 5% of patients required an examination and were scheduled for the following day. We were able to obtain grant funding for PPE and reopened for in-person appointments after ensuring staff and patient safety. In California, there are many options for people to get health insurance. However, the coverage can be intermittent depending on the patient's current income and other factors AND the systems are complex which make it difficult to navigate. Instead of operating under any insurance model, we decided to provide truly free care - no one gets billed - not the patient, not an insurance company and not the government. The elimination of billing freed us up to do what we know is most important - spending time with our patients. Our minimum appointment length is 30 minutes because we don't have to spend as much time on paperwork and claims.