Open Arms Health Clinic (OAHC) offers free health-related services to more than 4,000 patients in our local community. All are uninsured or underinsured. More than 85% have chronic diseases requiring ongoing care, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease or asthma. Most have little to no savings, work low-paying jobs, or have recently lost jobs and are not eligible for government assistance. Without our clinic, many would seek help in local emergency rooms or put off care, a high-risk choice for those with chronic conditions.
But health is more than medical care. For most low-income patients, barriers to wellness (unstable housing, low income, unsafe neighborhoods, or substandard education) greatly impact their chronic health conditions. Our whole-person approach addresses these needs by helping connect them to other services we offer and those provided by others in our area.
Each year, OAHC provides thousands of patient interactions through a volunteer staff of 60+ medical professionals and others. The Clinic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by private grants and donations. Clinic services include non-emergency acute and chronic general healthcare, social services, counseling, chronic health education, physical therapy, GYN, orthopedics, podiatry and dermatology, with interpreters available when needed.
Our data shows improved health numbers year after year in 80-90% of chronically ill patients who come through our doors. By helping patients gain long-term control of their health, we help improve the lives of family members in their care and our community as a whole. Past patients report reduced ER visits, better employment opportunities and happier lives.
Changes in 2024
Open Arms Health Clinic is undergoing change. In 2024 we had enough people who believed in our mission that we paid off the mortgage on the building bought in 2017. OAHC is now ready to stretch our arms even farther to concentrate funds onto the needs in the community by enlarging our current services, supplies and staffing. Currently we have a medical patient waiting list of 300 uninsured and underinsured people needing the services of OAHC. This has been a battle since the pandemic. With our mortgage paid, we are focusing on adding key staff and more volunteers to bring that number down. We are also pushing to enlarge our bilingual counseling training program. This will not only help our patients but the community at large.