Members
The Georgia Free Clinic Network is the only statewide organization whose mission is solely focused on the needs of charitable clinics and the populations they serve. When GFCN was founded in 2003, the leaders envisioned a network of local free clinics brought together to create a voice more powerful than could be realized in a local community.
GFCN advocates on behalf of the clinics on all issues affecting them, whether it is in the regulatory or legislative arena. We provide networking opportunities. We apply for funding sources to distribute to free clinics, and provide members this email newsletter. We connect donated medications and goods between the donors and free clinics. We investigate new technology issues, such as the most effective software for clinic needs. We conduct conferences and meetings for clinic staff and volunteers.
As a tax-exempt 501(c) (3) organization, GFCN receives generous support from the corporate community and many private foundations. We are continually seeking grant funding to finance our many activities and programs for free clinics. However, the heart and soul of our funding must come from the individual memberships of the free clinics we represent. Each clinic in Georgia can experience a greater role through GFCN membership as they contribute to the well-being of all clinics and the populations they serve.
When GFCN began, clinics were initially charged dues for membership. Recently the Board of Directors of the Network determined that in order to strengthen and continue to grow the organization to best serve the clinics, a dues payment for membership should be reinstated.
Please join the Network--your support will go a long way to assist us in continuing to help you and the other clinics on the front line each day caring for patients who have nowhere else to turn.
The GFCN Focus:
- Unifying clinics serving Georgia's uninsured through advocacy, technical assistance and collective purchasing
- Development, implementation and replication of data gathering resources regarding the uninsured, including demographics and morbidity
- Strengthening the infrastructure to serve GFCN membership
- Assisting in the development of new services in areas of highest unmet need
Who can be a member?
Members of the GFCN are health care organizations or providers who provide care to the uninsured or underinsured. This includes free clinics, sliding-scale and donation-based clinics, and other providers that work with the uninsured.
Membership Information
Membership Application-Active Member
Membership Application-Associate Member
GFCN PROGRAMMING
Advocacy & Communications - The Network plays a vital role in advocating for state policies and regulations to support free clinics. By empowering GFCN to be the "voice" for free clinics in the legislative and regulatory arenas, members can address state public policy needs for free clinics, guide consensus and work through GFCN to can find real solutions and advance the cause.
In order to maintain regular communication with members, GFCN sends the popular weekly e-GFCNetwork News briefing, and will soon produce a bi-monthly newsletter to member clinics and volunteers. The recently redesigned www.gfcn.org organized with solid user-friendliness and also offers a wealth of information to the media and public. A Members-Only section will soon be available.
Annual Conference & Clinic Directors' Retreat - GFCN holds its statewide annual conference for member clinics, their staff and volunteers each year. A number of national, state and local health care and policy leaders present their best-practices and additionally, this is a time of learning, networking, and problem-solving. The first-ever retreat designed exclusively for clinic directors was held in September, 2008.
Resource Sharing and Acquisition - Through its website, GFCN provides a means for interested parties to locate clinics, share best practices, and keep current with public policy affecting clinics. GFCN is also in the process of developing agreements with manufacturers, suppliers, and other vendors to provide their products and services at a discounted rate to GFCN members.
Technical Assistance Programming - GFCN launched their new Technical Assistance Program in 2008 for the purpose of strengthening and sustaining clinics' capacities to fulfill their missions in the areas of sustainability, volunteer recruitment and training, grant writing, board development and program evaluation. A recent study from the Brookings Institute found that organizations with increased organizational effectiveness showed an increase in funding from donors and grantors.
Through a combination of workshops, individual consultations, site visits, and webinars, top consultants from the various T.A. fields will guide each clinic to improve their organizational effectiveness in order to strengthen the clinic's infrastructure and better achieve their missions.
Data Aggregation - GFCN is coordinating with six pilot clinics to develop an electronic medical records system that serves the needs of the clinic, as well as providing unprecedented data at the state level. The project allows for the capture of demographic data, patient morbidity, utilization, health status, and the savings to the community and state with the services provided by the clinics. This information will be used by clinics to increase efficiency and effectiveness in their health delivery services, and by GFCN to help tell the story of the uninsured.
2008 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
So many accomplishments were achieved in 2008. The Board and Staff of GFCN are grateful to those who have made our progress possible. These events, projects and endeavors could not have occurred without the dedication and commitment of supporters, partners, and most importantly, the clinics.
- GFCN was awarded $150,000 from the Healthcare Georgia Foundation to establish a technical assistance program for free clinics in the areas of volunteer engagement, sustainability, grant writing and evaluation.
- GFCN established our first corporate home near DeKalb Medical Center in Decatur, GA.
- GFCN held its first official fundraising event, a golf tournament, with support from state legislative leadership, and raising over $30,000.
- GFCN spoke at the National Congress on the Uninsured in Washington DC to tell the story of Georgia's clinics and patients.
- GFCN held our 4th Annual Conference: Building Relationships in February; and our first ever Clinic Directors' Retreat in September.
- GFCN served as an advocate for the clinics at the State Capitol, securing a temporary state sales tax exemption for free clinics.
- GFCN began collaborating with the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians on a program to train medical students in health literacy and encourage them to volunteer at free clinics to foster better communication with patients.
- GFCN developed a new fresh corporate brand, brochures, and other marketing materials.
- GFCN was awarded $100,000 from Kaiser Permanente to establish a specialty care referral network for charitable clinics.
- GFCN completed its first ever year-end audit for the FY2007.
- GFCN re-designed and launched a new web site.
- GFCN established regular communications with the clinics through e-newsletter updates and site visits.
- GFCN supported the first Statewide Clinic Open House to inform legislators, the public and the media about the work of free clinics.
- GFCN offered members discounted rates for Directors and Officers insurance, employee liability and other insurance options.
- GFCN began work to provide discounted rates on health, life and dental insurance for the employees of free clinics.
- GFCN collaborated with TAP-In, a national program designed to recruit retired health care professionals to volunteer in free clinics in the Atlanta market.
- GFCN is coordinating the development of an electronic medical records system with six pilot clinics—one that serves the needs of the clinics, and provide unprecedented data at the state level.
- GFCN is piloting a program with Mental Health America-Georgia Chapter, the Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association and the Georgia Partnership for Telehealth, to provide mental health services to free clinics.
- GFCN began a resource repository so clinics can share information on everything from policies and procedures to equipment and supplies.
- GFCN responded to hundreds of inquiries from the public seeking care.
