opinion

Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic represents the best qualities of our community

One of our patients recently wrote: “I am 58 years old, born outside the United States and an American citizen. I’ve had wonderful times as well as plain scary times in my years in America. It is an amazing feeling to know that even during the times I didn’t have insurance, my basic health would be OK because the Iowa City Free Clinic was here. It gives me a feeling of dignity to have access to health care. Thank you all for the help, throughout the years.”

Since 1971, the Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic has worked hard to represent the best qualities of our community: dignity, kindness, respect, and the willingness to work together to make things better for others.

The clinic’s partnerships are many: Our organization works with Johnson County, the cities of Iowa City and Coralville, the United Way, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and Mercy Hospital. Area businesses, service groups and churches offer generous support and assistance.

Our most recent partnership is with UI College of Nursing. Through grant funding, the clinic now has a regular Nurse Practitioner Clinic and hired a part-time nurse practitioner. The college is paying a portion of the nurse practitioner’s salary. This new clinic will focus on the free clinic’s mission, “to provide quality, comprehensive health care for the uninsured and underinsured in Johnson County and surrounding areas,” while also providing training for nurse practitioner students.

Last year, the clinic received over $1.3 million of in-kind patient services, including labs, medications, radiology procedures and medical supplies. Hundreds of volunteers selflessly donated their time and skills. Because our community works together, the clinic holds six weekly medical clinics and six to 12 monthly dental clinics. We also provide specialty care, including gynecology, ophthalmology, dermatology and physical therapy.

The Iowa City Free Clinic is one of the longest-running free clinics in the U.S. We are here today because of our many diverse, rich, long-standing and evolving partnerships. I am extremely proud to be a part of such a community.

— Barbara Vinograde, executive director, Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic