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People who live on Johns and Wadmalaw islands and don't have health
insurance will have a place to go when they get sick without the cost
worries that often accompany doctor's visits.
The Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic's vision statement is an
often-quoted verse from the Bible, Matthew 25:40: "Inasmuch as you have done
it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me."
Hester Allison, the clinic's recently appointed executive director, takes
that to heart.
"We want to be the medical home for those on Johns and Wadmalaw islands that
don't have medical insurance or don't have means to pay," she said. "We
don't want to duplicate services on the islands, we want to complement
them."
The clinic will provide primary and preventative medical care for adults, as
well as health education tools and some laboratory and radiology tests.
About 20 percent of the population on Johns Island has an annual family
income that falls below the poverty line. The uninsured often let symptoms
of illness worsen until they have to go to the emergency room, said Dr.
Charlie Davis, one of the clinic's founders.
"Our goal is to treat people before it gets so bad that they have to go to
the emergency room," he said, adding that a large percentage of those who
don't have health insurance die prematurely, receive less preventive care
and are more likely to contract chronic illnesses. The clinic, now operating
out of offices at Church of Our Saviour, has held health fairs to provide
community educational tools.
"Community medical education is going to be a big part of what we'll do,"
Allison said.
The clinic will be a modular building, and the floorplans boast four exam
rooms and a pharmacy. Davis said the board is ready to place the order with
Vanguard Modular Building.
The Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic's board of directors is negotiating
with Roper St. Francis to buy a tract of land next to St. Johns High School.
To date, 36 area physicians have offered their volunteer services, as well
as eight nurses, five medical social workers and two psychologists. And the
clinic has received several grants from entities such as the town of Kiawah
Island, BlueCross BlueShield and the Kiawah Seabrook Exchange Club.
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