Powhatan’s brand new, volunteer-run free clinic opened Monday in the Health building on Old Buckingham Road. The non-governmental, non-profit facility exists “to serve the uninsured population of the county,” said project organizer Connie Moslow, who noted that Powhatan has long been in need of the service that most other counties had before now.

The clinic is available to any resident able to provide proof of financial eligibility at the time of treatment. “[Patients] have to meet the federal poverty guidelines plus 200 percent,” said Moslow. “70 percent of people who go to free clincs work full time, so this is like insurance for the working poor.” Volunteer physicians, nurses and nursing licensed LPAs treat everything from a cold to diabetes. “If some of these people get regular treatment for things like high blood pressure and asthma, we can prevent frequent hospital visits,” said Moslow.

Provisions have been made for cases that can’t be treated on site by staff. “We’re part of a program that let’s us send patients to specialists free of charge,” said Moslow. “We can get people blood work and urinalyses, but we’re not a Patient First — we’re not ready to handle stitches.”

The Powhatan Pharmacy has teamed with the volunteers, offering $5 prescriptions for patients of the free clinic.

“In one year we’ll be eligible to join the Association of Free Clinics,”said Moslow, “but for now, we’re on our own, so the volunteers and community aid really help.”

Clinic hours: Free clinic hours of operation are from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Mondays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays.