Healthcare can be complex and expensive, even for those with insurance. For those without insurance, it can mean the difference between living healthy/productive lives and suffering from treatable diseases or conditions. Hope Medical Clinic (HMC) began in 2009 with a question and a charge: Would it be possible to provide free healthcare to the working uninsured and medically under-served populations of Walton and Okaloosa counties? Volunteer providers: doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and licensed mental health counselors donate their time as their schedules allow. Providers customize their patient load as they see fit, as well as the frequency and length of their shifts. In addition to Sovereign Immunity protections provided by the state, providers are also protected legally through the Volunteer Healthcare Provider Program.
2. Volunteer nurses: help with guiding patient traffic, vital signs, documentation, education, and addressing patients conditions as needed (i.e. wound care, medication administration, etc.).
3. Clinic volunteers: Do everything from running our lab machines, running our prescription assistance program, answering questions our patients have about our program, assisting patients with documents, and entering patient profiles into our electronic medical records system and case management program.
4. The HMC Program: The Hope Medical Clinic is not a walk-in clinic. We have a program that patients can be admitted into if they qualify. If admitted, patients are scheduled with the provider we feel best matches their need(s). Our days are scheduled, our patients are known, and our providers and volunteers are much appreciated.
5. A little clinic with big friends: The Hope Medical Clinic is a partnership that includes private donors, the state of Florida, Sacred Heart, the Caduceus Society on the Emerald Coast, The Destin Charity Wine Auction, Direct Relief International, and area churches, including the Destin Church of Christ, Destiny Worship Center, Destin United Methodist Church, and Shoreline Church.
6. Services provided by HMC include:
- Primary Care
- Women's Health
- Prescription Assistance
- Licensed Mental Health Counselors
- Basic lab
- Referrals to medical specialists, social services, and healthcare programs within Okaloosa and Walton counties
- Education related to health promotion and maintenance as well as living with chronic conditions
- Case management
