At My Free Clinic, our mission is to provide accessible healthcare to everyone in our community. We believe that quality health services should be available to all, regardless of their ability to pay or status.
The Importance of Serving the Underserved
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In these challenging times, accessing healthcare can feel overwhelming, and we felt a deep need to respond to this struggle.
My Free Clinic is not just a clinic but a lifeline for underserved populations facing financial, social, language, and cultural barriers. We believe everyone deserves the healthcare they need. Through this initiative, we hope to help bridge the gaps many people face, creating a more inclusive, culturally congruent, and compassionate healthcare experience.
Who We Are
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We are excited to share an initiative that is close to our hearts: My Free Clinic is volunteer-run, explicitly designed to eliminate the barriers many face in accessing healthcare. Here, we are self-funded and operate without the constraints of funding, donations, appointments, sliding scales, or considerations of whether you are insured, uninsured, or underinsured, or your immigration status. Our approach is straightforward—we provide care on a first-come, first-served basis, ensuring that everyone can receive the care they need at "free of cost"
In 2024, we launched this initiative on the West Side of Chicago, offering comprehensive primary and psychiatric care to the underserved refugee and former refugee communities. A local meditation center graciously allowed us to use a small space equipped with two chairs and a table, creating a simple environment where assessments, diagnoses, and prescriptions can take place thoughtfully.
Our History
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My Free Clinic is proud to be the first free clinic run by a nurse practitioner. After a challenging journey towards achieving Full Practice Authority (FPA), we are thrilled to operate under this critical legislation, which makes a real difference in our communities. In Illinois, FPA empowers Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), including nurse practitioners, to practice independently without requiring a collaborative agreement with a physician.
As nurse practitioners, we deeply understand and witness the struggles many face when trying to access healthcare. With FPA, we can evaluate, diagnose, treat, and manage patients independently, ultimately leading to more efficient, equitable, and accessible healthcare services. It made My Free Clinic possible to stand proud today.
The impact of FPA is especially profound in rural and underserved areas, where many nurse practitioners strive to serve their communities. Our commitment to enhancing healthcare access, equity, and equality, as well as improving patient outcomes, drives our push for FPA, which fully empowers us to practice in accordance with our education and training.
Together, we can address health disparities and work toward improving health outcomes for all individuals.
If this is an emergency, please seek immediate medical attention and call 911.
