Two months after moving into their donated office space at the county Health Department building, the Powhatan Free Clinic continues to thrive.

It also seems the service could not have come at a better time. The impact of the recent economic downturn is evident in the increased traffic the staff has seen said Free Clinic Executive Directpor Connie Moslow, explaining that many of their new clients are people who have recently been laid off from work.

According to Moslow, the clinic has seen a steady increase in the number of residents coming for treatment.

Add to that the fact that many patients need extensive care to deal with medical issues that have gone untreated, and it’s clear clinic volunteers have their work cut out for them.

Fortunately, said Moslow, the group’s call for volunteers garnered numerous responses. In addition to a volunteer social worker who provides counseling for patients, the clinic now has six physicians, four nurse practitioners, three dentists and a host of other support personnel who donate their time. Three county restaurants —Village Garden, County Seat, Turner’s Barbeque — and the Women’s Circle at May Memorial Church also donate meals for the volunteers on a rotating basis.

While the Free Clinic has been available to residents since early this year, organizers have only been operating out of an office in the County Health Department building since Aug. 25.
Moslow, who spearheaded the process of bringing the free clinic to the county, says she’s been very pleased with the success of the program so far.

“We are now recognized by the other counties as a new, good, viable Free Clinic in the county,” she said last week. She said the support they have received both from the county Board of Supervisors and the county Health Department has been critical to their success so far.

One misconception people may have is that those taking advantage of free clinic services are unemployed or on welfare. In fact, she said, 70 percent of the patients who rely on Virginia free clinics work full time and 12 percent work part time.

The Powhatan Free Clinic is open to financially eligible Powhatan residents without health coverage. The clinic is currently open on Mondays from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call the free clinic at (804) 516-2732.