Brock Hughes - 25 Years

Free Clinic Anniversary

August 23, 2015

A permanent location, full-time staff, increase in patient load and community acceptance are among the major changes experienced by the Brock Hughes Free Clinic during its 20 years of service to the residents of Wythe and Bland counties. To celebrate the clinic’s anniversary, an open house will be held Tuesday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the 450 W. Monroe St. location. There will be tours of the building and refreshments. “I knew the need was here,” said Tamara Tolliver, the clinic’s executive director. “But I never thought the clinic would grow like it has. It has been amazing and rewarding to see how so many needs have been met.” She was the clinic’s first executive director, hired in March 1996 after the clinic opened in September 1995. Tolliver left after 10 years but returned in March 2013. “There have been so many changes over the years – mostly good changes,” she noted. “One of those has been a permanent home for the clinic. I never dreamed we’d have that.” Established in 1995, the free clinic was formed by nurses from Wythe County Community Hospital to meet the health care needs of the uninsured, low-income residents of Wythe and Bland counties. It was named in honor of the late Dr. C. Brock Hughes, a longtime Wytheville pediatrician and highly admired member of the local medical community. Originally under the management of Helping Overcome Poverty’s Existence Inc. (HOPE), the clinic became its own independent, tax exempt, 501 (c) entity in 2004 when the clinic realized the potential growth and need for its own board. The free clinic was originally housed in the Wythe County Health Department. It operated one night a week with a volunteer staff from the hospital. A grant in 1996 enabled the clinic to hire a part-time executive director to handle the daily operations. The clinic operated at the health department with no overhead expenses. In 1997, the clinic relocated to offices at Edgemont Center. It retained its executive director and operated with volunteer physicians. Another grant in 1999 allowed the clinic to hire a part-time nurse practitioner and receptionist. In 2010, the clinic was given a 90-day notice to vacate the Edgemont Center premises. It then moved to 105 W. Pine St.After years of operating with minor overhead, the clinic board realized a huge expense increase after taking on a $1,500 per month rent plus utilities.

In December 2014, the free clinic relocated to its current site at 450 W. Monroe St. It was able to purchase the site with a grant from the Wythe Bland Foundation. Through grants written specifically for renovation of the building, the clinic is debt-free. The value of the building project with renovations is $600,000. “I hope we will operate out of here for the next 20-plus years,” Tolliver said. Based on 2014 statistics, the free clinic treated a total of 2,306 patients (115 patients per week). Of these, 696 were new. In 2014, the clinic filled 6,995 prescriptions none of which were narcotics. This was an average of 140 prescriptions per week. The free clinic still receives in-kind services from WCCH, including X-rays, scans and other treatments. In 2014, the hospital provided more than $800,000 collaborative/in kind services. RxPartnership provided over $1.3 million name brandmedications. Narcotics are not prescribed by the clinic. Other major donors to the free clinic are the United Way of Wythe County, Virginia Health Care Foundation, Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics and many private contributors. According to Tolliver, major illnesses of the clinic’s patients continue to be diabetes and hypertension. Around 75 percent of the patients require chronic care. “We also do a lot of educational health programs for our patients and the community,” Tolliver added. “We try to educate them with prevention information and ways to control their illnesses.” While the clinic treats patients ages 18 to 65, the majority is females ages 35 to 55. The free clinic now has a seven-member staff. It includes two nurse practitioners, a part-time pharmacist, a receptionist and nurses. Clinic hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by appointment only. The office is closed from 1 to 2 p.m. for lunch. Eligibility is determined by total household income and lack of insurance. For information about eligibility, call the clinic at 223-0558.

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