Recognizing the Need for Quality Healthcare
Navigating the world of healthcare is a complicated process on the best of days. Being uninsured and without access to medical care makes it all feel impossible. Where do you go when you know something is wrong? This question sparked an idea.
In 2018, a small group of people met to discuss how one of the healthiest and most affluent counties in Georgia could have so many people unable to obtain treatment for even the most basic ailments. This discussion led to deeper conversations, and this first group of leaders decided they needed to act and create a free clinic in the county. This led to the creation of Forsyth Community Clinic.
Over many years the Board of Directors shaped the foundation. With the addition of its first Executive Director in May 2022, FCC turned from an idea into a reality.
By May 2023 the clinic was officially opened its doors and began treating patients and started making a difference one step at a time.
Free clinics are for everyone. Nobody asks to be sick or injured but when it happens, they need a place to go for medical care. Forsyth Community Clinic is that place for the uninsured in our community. These are our neighbors, our friends, our family, and this is why the clinic exists, to be the first place people come for guidance because if someone makes it to our doors, we offer help, in whatever form is required for each unique person.
Making a Difference One Step at a Time
We often joke that there are two origin stories for the clinic: one that details the creation of the organization focused on what it hoped to achieve and a second one that formed once the clinic opened its doors and fully realized what it faced and what it needed to become.
FCC continues to evolve and be daring in its approach to establishing itself as a medical hub for all uninsured patients in Forsyth County. FCC’s staff and volunteers have committed to being an engaged, compassionate, thoughtful medical home for people in need and work diligently to adhere to the ideals and morals of a time that may seem like it has past but is alive and well in the hearts and actions of Forsyth Community Clinic’s dedicated team.
The Creation of the
Forsyth Community Clinic
In 2018, a small group of people met to discuss how one of the healthiest and most affluent counties in Georgia could have so many people unable to obtain treatment for even the most basic ailments. This discussion led to deeper conversations, and this first group of leaders decided they needed to act and create a free clinic in the county. This led to the creation of Forsyth Community Clinic.
Over many years the Board of Directors shaped the foundation. With the addition of its first Executive Director in May 2022, FCC turned from an idea into a reality.
By May 2023 the clinic was officially opened its doors and began treating patients and started making a difference one step at a time.
Shaping Our Vision
Free clinics are for everyone, whether it be a new college graduate who is without coverage, an entrepreneur who fell on hard times, an hourly waged employee whose employer offers no coverage, someone experiencing a major life change, or just someone who needs a little help due to nothing more than life interfering. These are our neighbors, our friends, our families and this is why the clinic should be a place to receive compassionate, free healthcare. Everyone can use a helping hand now and again. Nobody asks to be sick or injured but when it happens, they need a place to go.
Access to Healthcare
Over 26,000 people living in Forsyth County are without health insurance or access to affordable health care.
Living In Poverty
Approximately 14,000 people are at or below the Federal Poverty Level.
No Free Options
For decades, there has been no wholly free healthcare option in the county. Without a place to go people are forced to make unnecessary decisions and potentially sacrifice their health to avoid expensive bills.
When we opened to the public, there was limited understanding of what to expect. It took just a couple of months to understand the incredible need in our community and once we understood, FCC started shaping itself into a comprehensive medical care office.
We want to be the first place people come to receive help, where their needs are heard, questions answered, fears dissolved and solutions provided. At times it may seem like a big task but we believe that if someone finds their way to our door, we owe it to them to offer help.
All clinic services are provided by volunteers which means they want to be here, they care deeply, and they want to help. FCC aspires to listen to every patient, to meet them where they are with their medical health, and never pass judgement. It is incredibly important to everyone at the clinic to treat every patient with great kindness and care.
Our Future:
A Mobile Clinic
We recognize that Forsyth County has no public transportation or rideshares, creating a barrier for many patients to get access to medical care. Data shows that if someone struggles to attend one appointment, getting them back for repeated treatment is nearly impossible.
In September 2023, we acknowledged this problem and decided to attempt solving it by launching the first mobile healthcare clinic in Forsyth County. As the clinic grows, we now believe our greatest impact is out in the community and is achieved by shifting ourselves into a primarily mobile healthcare clinic model that is supported by a smaller physical clinic.
We want, and need, to take healing directly to people and engage our patients in preventative healthcare. From the Board of Directors through to the volunteers, FCC has committed to making the sustainability of the mobile clinic our primary focus and are working hard to make this a reality by April 2025 when we expect to launch our first mobile health clinic.