Canaan
“Our goal is to provide complete integrated care, where most all of our patient’s needs — other than emergency treatment or hospitalization — can be met right in the community where they live,” said Tim Jennings, board member and chairman of the development committee at the health center, who is coordinating the volunteer effort.
The community health center currently provides primary care services, dental care and family planning to residents of the Mascoma Valley, including Canaan, Dorchester, Enfield, Grafton and Orange. The center accepts insurance and charges on a sliding scale for patients who are unable to pay full price. The center has plans to expand in order to offer mental health services, X-rays and physical therapy.
Currently, the clinic is looking for volunteers in three areas: administrative volunteers, to help with everything from stocking exam rooms to filing or signing patients up for Medicaid. Clinical volunteers with experience working in health care are sometimes needed as well, as are developmental volunteers, who help with patient outreach, communications and marketing, and planning special events.
Jennings said that volunteers have always been instrumental to the health center, which opened last June. The clinic met its target of 1,600 patients within the first year and continues to sign up 100 patients a month. To support the growth, additional volunteers are needed.
“The health center wouldn’t be in operation were it not for a dedicated group of volunteers who had an idea for a new health care delivery model for the Mascoma towns, one that was not a part of a bigger organization, and thus accountable only to the patients and the community,” he said.
The 19-member board of directors is comprised of residents from five area towns. In addition, about a dozen active volunteers support the health center with everything from landscaping to IT work. However, more help is always needed.
“We could easily put another dozen people to work,” Jennings said.
Jennings said that volunteering with the community health center is a way for people to have a positive interaction with a health care system that is often frustrating.
“Volunteers can see primary health care in action, learn about health care and work with great people doing interesting things,” he said. “If you want to do something tangible to help fix our nation’s health care system, then join us, at the local level. We are making a difference.”
Volunteers need to undergo training on health care privacy, clinic procedures and communications protocols, but after that schedules can be tailored to fit the volunteer’s needs. There are positions available within and outside business hours.
Editor’s note: Those interested in volunteering should contact Jennings at 603-443-0279 or tjennings@cardigan.org.