Clearwater Free Clinic

Tony Degina, CEO of the Clearwater Free Clinic

Clearwater Free Clinic Operations Overview

Club president David Shelor introduced Tony Degina, CEO of the Clearwater Free Clinic, who will speak about the clinic's mission of providing comprehensive community-powered care.

Tony, representing the Clearwater Free Clinic, shared insights into their operations and impact. The clinic serves uninsured patients in Pinellas County, providing comprehensive care, including primary, behavioral, and specialty services. With over 4,100 registered patients and 12,000+ visits annually, they achieve a high return on investment through volunteerism and private funding. Tony emphasized their success in preventing emergency room visits for chronic conditions and highlighted opportunities for community engagement and support.

Clearwater Free Clinic Expansion Plans

Tony presented an overview of the Clearwater Free Clinic, highlighting its history and current operations. He introduced a new fundraising event called "Pins for Patients" and discussed plans for expanding services to include a wellness center and teaching. Tony also addressed the clinic's appointment system, wait times for various services, and the importance of public transportation for patients. He mentioned that about 50-60% of the clinic's customer base relies on public transportation.

Healthy Living Program Success Story

Tony discussed the clinic's healthy living program, which helps patients manage diabetes and hypertension through lifestyle changes. He shared a success story about a patient and his family who participated in the program, leading to improved health outcomes. Tony also explained that the clinic does not accept medication donations due to regulatory requirements, but they receive donated medications from pharmaceutical companies through organizations like Direct Relief. He noted that the clinic primarily serves patients aged 18 to 64 with limited capacity to care for children due to funding constraints. He also mentioned the challenging process of patients transitioning to Medicare at age 65.

Rotary Treasurer Transition and Updates

David Bramley provides an overview of the treasurer's responsibilities, including managing accounts, paying invoices, depositing funds, and preparing financial reports. The club has made financial improvements due to recent dues increases, though they are still in deficit. The management of the Dunedin Rotary Club Foundation has been transferred to the Pinellas Community Foundation. Andrea Gould will take over as treasurer, and David Kelly will serve as cashier starting in July. The club's upcoming events include a fishing tournament in October and a social gathering at Lucky Lobster next Wednesday.