WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — In the past four years, Good Neighbor Health Clinic has seen its weekly patient volume triple and more new patients with increasingly complex conditions seeking care.
About four years ago, the free medical clinic in White River Junction regularly saw about 18 to 20 patients per week and is now seeing more than 60, Executive Director Elizabeth Franson said Friday.
The numbers have jumped as “a lot of things economically have become harder for people,” such as the rising costs of food and gas.
To help address the growing needs of uninsured and underinsured patients, Dartmouth Health plans to fund medical director and associate medical director positions at the free medical clinic indefinitely, according to a Thursday news release.
“Everyone deserves access to compassionate, high-quality care, regardless of their insurance status or financial circumstances,” DH CEO Joanne Conroy said in the news release.
Historically, the clinic, which first opened in 1992, has had volunteer medical directors, but “as patient numbers begin to increase and complexity of care needs continue to grow,” the new full-time employees will hopefully “offer more continuity” for patients, Franson said in a Friday interview.
The medical director will “oversee clinical operations, guide policy development and support volunteer clinicians and learners working within the clinic,” according to the news release from DH.
Good Neighbor offers free medical services including primary care, diagnostic testing, mental health services, vaccinations and physical therapy along with other resources like personal items and assistance in applying for Medicare or Medicaid.
Both Franson and DH spokesperson Elissa Borden declined to say how much DH was contributing for the positions.
DH plans to conduct a national search to fill the medical director role, Borden said Tuesday. The health network will fund the position indefinitely.
Franson said DH also plans to fund an associate medical director position. Borden said this position is currently filled.
Franson hopes the new medical director positions will allow more “consistency through scheduling” than the previously all volunteer-run operation, as well as consistency in primary care appointments and referrals.
The clinic also works with students from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and she hopes the medical directors will be able to offer more support to them.
Good Neighbor Health Clinic is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday at 70 North Main Street. Adults living within 30 miles of White River Junction who are uninsured, underinsured or unable to pay for care can apply to become a patient. An application form and information on eligibility and how to apply are available online at https://goodneighborhealthclinic.org/apply-for-services/.
