Dr. Reiko Johnson Starting Free Health Care In Seacoast: What To Know And How To Help

PORTSMOUTH - A local family doctor is offering free health care to people with and without health insurance in the greater coastal and Tri-Cities area. And he hopes to recruit more people who want to help make the business a success.

Dr Reika Johnson will open her free clinics on January 10 at Cross Roads House in Portsmouth and Willand Drive Warming Center in Somersworth. The program is modeled after Volunteers in Medicine of New Hampshire (VIM-NH), a national group of free medical clinics.

Johnson said she used her five years of volunteer experience at the former Hampton Free Clinic, founded by Dr. Jay Kaminsky, which operated for 18 years and closed in 2016.

"I learned a lot from there, seeing and experiencing the free care that was offered," she said as she jogged past the clinic's dining room in a borrowed mobile van. "It operated with very little funding, without the need for grants or large fundraisers. There were limited hours and outreach so as not to interfere with other health care systems... Nurses and social workers helped patients find resources and follow up at local hospitals. offered services and donated consumables. The providers were local doctors who came in three-hour shifts once a week for a month, and it was very doable.

Although the VIM-NH clinic was initially offered only to Cross Road House and Willand Drive Warming Center clients, Johnson said he hopes to expand the free medical care to more people and more places.

The free clinic will provide health services to people at low cost

Johnson's plan complements VIM-NH's day-to-day public health work on the Great Seashore. Families First of Greater Seacoast operates Goodwin Community Health and Mobile Health Services in Somersworth, Portsmouth, which serve low-income and indigent individuals who cannot afford health care. In addition to primary care services, it provides care coordination and access to behavioral health services.

Karin Toussaint, registered nurse and manager of mobile health services for Greater Seacoast Community Health, said the VIM-NH clinics will be a good addition to the services her team provides at Cross Roads House, including the mobile health clinic. Services are available at Family First in Portsmouth and Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth.

VIM-NH polyclinic can serve guests only in the evening", he said. "The vision of Dr. Johnson is that after providing acute care at the VIM-NH clinics, he will connect patients to Family First or Goodwin Health Centers for comprehensive ongoing care. Thus, the VIM clinic will provide patients with a continuum of primary care, behavioral health, prenatal, and acts as an entry point for them to enter a medical home where they can receive care, family services, WIC and more. in a medical center for continuous and long-term care.”

Johnson said an important part of their mission is to ensure patient continuity of care, follow-up and access to community resources.

"Because we are not primary care providers, we refer patients to family first," he said. He said Toussaint will volunteer at the Cross Roads House clinic and help build that relationship.

Marginalized coastal communities need health care

Managers at Cross Roads House and Willand Drive Warming Center say they are excited to provide medical care to their clients.

"I think this is a great health benefit that can go to the community and provide significant support," said John Burns, executive director of SOS Recovery Services, which will operate the Willand Drive warming center this winter. 2022-2023. “Many of the people we serve in emergency hot shelters do not have access to traditional health care services and supports... We hope that other agencies and social service providers will also work together to remove barriers to access . for our friends and loved ones Vulnerable and marginalized Working with partners It's wonderful to see people giving their heart and soul to uplift our community.

Read more: Willand Drive Center without full-time shelter for winter 2022-2023: Will it be enough?

This winter, Cross Roads House is serving as an overnight warming center for Rockingham County, increasing its reach and increasing the need for free medical care.

"We're very excited about this," said Will Orvella, executive director of Cross Roads House. "Before COVID, we worked with Family First to provide health care to our residents. During COVID, it became even more difficult. We are working with them again and welcome this new relationship. You can see that how powerful it is for our residents I don't know how to get ongoing medical care.

Arvello said Cross Roads' customers are increasingly becoming people over 60.

"They can have serious health problems," he said. "Then there are young families with children. It is very important that it takes place in a place where many people have problems with movement or transport. Aquarius needs this service and we hope it happens."

The former Hampton Free Clinic offers a model

Johnson said he founded VIM-NH in March 2021 after "finding" the Volunteers in America's Medicine website while doing research. And it was partly inspired by his past experiences in the Hamptons.

Johnson said the VIM-NH clinic at Cross Roads House, which will begin accepting patients in January, is based on the Hampton Free Clinic model. He said his plan is to start serving on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at a specific time.

2016 Story: Hampton Free Medical Clinic closes its doors for the last time

"I think sustainability is important for a free clinic, so we're not going to buy an expensive van," he said. "Use existing places that the community trusts and uses — like shelters or community centers — where VIM-NH plans to see patients. We want to reduce barriers to accessing patient care."

VIM-NH aims to establish a mobile medical team or team that will travel to areas of high need.

Johnson said it would offer emergency services such as care for Covid, strep, flu and other respiratory illnesses. It will treat infections, asthma, high blood pressure and other chronic conditions.

Primary care for children and adults may include:

• Acute problems such as respiratory infections, large stitches and rashes.

• Treatment of chronic conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and gout

• Treatment of injuries or conditions of the musculoskeletal system.

• assessment and treatment of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression;

• Physics at work and at school.

• Administering vaccines such as the COVID, tetanus and flu shots.

• Lab tests including urinalysis, pregnancy test, blood sugar, HgA1c, rapid strep test, rapid covid test and rapid flu test.

• pharmacy services to meet basic drug needs; Coupons at local pharmacies to reduce the cost of drugs for patients.

• Accept requests for available resources, such as initiating claims for health insurance, food stamps, and other community organizations.

What volunteers do NH health clinics need?

Johnson said he has assembled a great team to get started, but is still looking for help. He welcomes more volunteers and donations of basic medical supplies and even funds to continue the mission of free medical care.

“Our volunteer team consists of licensed health care professionals and non-clinical volunteers who help with many tasks,” she said. "We were very lucky to have a great team from the start."

One of the volunteers, she noted, is Alena Latilnyk, a student at St. Mary's High School. Thomas Aquinas, a certified practical nurse, whom he has known for 10 years.

Using VIM's free mobile clinic model, Johnson said her goal is to create an active list of licensed health care professionals willing to volunteer in New Hampshire and improve the volunteering process.

"Many of us want to contribute, but we don't always know how and when," he said.

Johnson said her next goal after the clinic opens in 2023 is to collaborate with her fellow dentists.

"We often get referrals for dental problems -- pain, abscesses and difficulty finding a dentist," Johnson said. "Voluntary health clinics across the country are teaming up with their dental partners and providing free dental care to patients in need. It would be amazing to have a free dental clinic day every quarter in the near future. Are there any dentists interested in becoming partners Tell us . Get students involved. "That would be a great way to do it."

Johnson hopes his efforts are just part of a larger effort to bring health care to the people who need it.

"I want this to turn into a growing movement, so I'm here for anyone who wants to get involved," he said.

For more information, volunteers can visit vimnh.org/volunteer. Johnson encourages anyone interested in donating or helping to email rjohnson@vimnh.org.

This article originally appeared in the Portsmouth Herald: Dr. Reiko Johnson begins volunteering NH-Medicine in Seacoast NH

Eau Claire School Board - Monday, November 28, 2022