Albemarle Hospital - Community Care Clinics

What is it?

The Albemarle Hospital Foundation, which was created in 2003, developed Community Care Clinics to offer free primary care, prescriptions, and prescription assistance to the region’s growing indigent, uninsured, and underinsured population. The Foundation has created Community Care Clinics in each of the six counties within its service area and played a major role in developing a Community Care Clinic in a neighboring county.

Who is it for?

Area homeless, uninsured, and underinsured individuals and families.

Why do they do it?

In Pasquotank County, home of Albemarle Hospital, the median household income is at least $8,000 less than the state average, the per capita income is nearly $6,000 less than the state average, and 18 percent of residents live below the poverty level, which is more than 6 percent higher than elsewhere in the state. More than 25,000 residents are indigent, uninsured or underinsured. Within these groups, minorities and a growing Hispanic population are experiencing an increase in chronic diseases such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.

Impact

In its first year, the Albermarle Hospital Foundation’s Elizabeth City Community Care Clinic filled more than 14,000 non-narcotic prescriptions through its pharmacy; helped clients acquire more than 12,000 prescriptions through a prescription assistance program; and provided more than 930 patients with free medical care, totaling more than $4.5 million in free health care services.

Contact: Phil Donahue
Vice President of Community Outreach
Telephone: 252-384-4072
E-mail: pdonahue@albemariehealth.org