The Backbone of Healthcare

Free and charitable clinics are the backbone of the American healthcare safety-net system. They fight to bridge the healthcare gap by providing services, mostly preventative and primary care related, at little to no cost to the vulnerable and uninsured population. As a patient advocate and navigator for Birmingham Free Clinic, I have witnessed firsthand the importance of these clinics' services, resources, and referrals to their surrounding communities. After discussing with the Birmingham clinical director, Mary Hebert, I learned that, much like other free clinics, Birmingham started as a solution to one of Pittsburgh’s rising issues — homelessness.

The founding director of Birmingham recognized that many homeless individuals who were discharged from emergency departments or other inpatient venues were told to make follow up appointments with primary care or specialties. However, they were not given any viable options— ones they could afford or felt safe going to. This led the founding director to initiate a partnership with the Pittsburgh South Side Salvation Army, a drop-in center for homeless individuals. By working alongside the Salvation Army drop-in hours, Birmingham was able to follow up with much of the nearby homeless population, particularly individuals who visited the center often.

The services provided by Birmingham proved to be vital to the community. While the clinic exclusively served the homeless population within the first couple of years, the closure of multiple independent hospitals led to a patient population expansion that included non-homeless but chronically uninsured patients. As this population grew, so did Birmingham. What started off as three half-day primary care sessions per week turned into numerous specialty clinic sessions, point-of-care testings, increased medication access, and much more.

What makes Birmingham special? The constant willingness to re-evaluate, grow, and expand based on our patient’s needs. Birmingham strives to provide the best possible care while actively working to eliminate barriers and increase accessibility. The small yet passionate staff at Birmingham resonate these values, always going the extra mile to help their patients. As a National Health Corps member, I serve alongside this mighty team by helping conduct clinic workflow, providing social and medical services, applying for free prescription medication access, navigating health insurance, and more.

Free and charitable clinics, such as Birmingham, are a shining example of the importance of free healthcare to underserved populations. To keep up this significant pillar of the community, support your local free clinic by providing time and support, financially or otherwise, in order to work towards health equity!

This post was written by NHC Pittsburgh member Jisha Reji. Jisha serves with the Program for Healthcare to Underserved Populations at Birmingham Free Clinic as a Patient Advocate and Navigator.