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Since opening in July on the campus of Montgomery General Hospital in Olney, Proyecto Salud Clinic has treated more than 150 patients.
Few health care professionals are surprised by those numbers.
"Our community is changing, as is the economy, and more and more people are finding themselves uninsured," Montgomery General President Peter Monge said.
Montgomery General, which is now a partner of MedStar Health of Columbia, pledged the startup costs for the clinic and will provide the office space free of charge as part of a three-year agreement with Proyecto Salud.
Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc. donated $50,000 to support the clinic's operation at an open house last Thursday.
"We are committed to building strong, healthy neighborhoods by investing in innovative programs designed to serve local community needs," said William Couper, Bank of America's mid-Atlantic president. "Proyecto Salud Clinic, through its work with the medically underserved, has had a direct impact on the health and wellness of our citizenry.
Proyecto Salud, headquartered in Wheaton, is a public/private partnership with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. It offers a range of primary and non-emergency care to uninsured Montgomery County residents, including physicals, gynecological exams, influenza shots and basic laboratory services.
The Olney clinic was established to provide health care services for residents without health insurance and to combat long hospital emergency room wait times that result from residents using hospitals for primary care services. The clinic enables community members to take advantage of its services at the onset of issues without waiting until they become an emergency.
A physician and two certified nurse practitioners staff the clinic, located in Suite 312 of the Physician's Office Building on the Montgomery General campus on Prince Philip Drive in Olney.
An estimated 90 percent of the patients of Proyecto Salud, Spanish words which translate literally to "health plan," are members of the Hispanic community, but the clinic is open to all residents of Montgomery County that meet the financial criteria. In addition to English and Spanish, staff members speak French and Mandarin.
"There is not necessarily a need for this in the Olney community, but in the county in general," Montgomery General Hospital spokeswoman Nikki Yeager said. "The CEOs of county hospitals worked with the county to determine the best location to make it accessible to the most county residents."
MGH officials say they will continue to work closely with Proyecto Salud to ensure its success.
"We feel compelled to assist Proyecto Salud Clinic in its efforts to make health care available to those without resources," Monge said. "We commend Bank of America for partnering with us in support of a program that is essential for the health of our community and its residents."
