Dr. Reiko Johnson starts Volunteers in Medicine-NH in Seacoast NH
PORTSMOUTH — A local family doctor is about to bring free medical care to the Seacoast and Tri-City metro areas for the uninsured or underinsured. And she hopes to recruit more people willing to help her make this venture successful.
Dr. Reiko Johnson will begin her free clinics on January 10 at Cross Roads House in Portsmouth and Willand Drive Warming Center in Somersworth. The program, Volunteers in Medicine-New Hampshire (VIM-NH) is modeled on a national group of free healthcare clinics.
Johnson said she is drawing on her experience volunteering for five years at a former free clinic in Hampton, which was founded by Dr. Jay Kaminski, ran for 18 years, and closed in 2016.
“I learned a lot by being there, watching and experiencing the free care that was provided,” he said, noting that the clinic operated out of a soup kitchen in a borrowed mobile van. “It operated with very little funding, without much need for grants or large fundraisers. It had limited hours and scope so it wouldn’t encroach on other health care systems…Nurses and social workers helped patients find resources and follow Local hospitals donated services and supplies. The providers were local doctors who came in once a month for three-hour shifts, and it was very doable.”
While the VIM-NH clinic will initially only be offered to clients of Cross Roads House and Willand Drive Warming Center, Johnson said his hope is to expand free healthcare to more people and more locations.
Free clinic to add to healthcare for low-income people in Seacoast
Johnson’s plan is for VIM-NH to complement the daily work he already does to Community Health of the Great Coast. GSCH has the First Mobile Healthcare van and serves low-income and underserved individuals who meet income guidelines and may not be able to pay for health care. In addition to primary care services, it offers dental and behavioral health services.
Coreen Toussaint, RN and manager of Mobile Health Services at Greater Seacoast Community Health, said the VIM-NH clinics will be a good complement to the services her team provides during mobile health clinics, including one at Cross Roads House, as well as the services available at Families First in Portsmouth and Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth.
“The VIM-NH clinic can take care of residents who are only available at night,” he said. “Dr. Johnson’s vision is that after providing acute care during VIM-NH clinics, he would connect patients to Families First or Goodwin health centers for ongoing wrap-around services. Thus, the VIM clinic serves as the entry point for patients to enter a medical home where they can obtain ongoing primary care, behavioral health, prenatal care, family services, WIC, and more. This partnership is a way to remove barriers for people who are having trouble getting medical services and get them to receive consistent long-term care at the health facility. We look forward to working together to help those in need.”
Johnson said an important part of his mission is making sure patients have continuity of care, follow-up and connection to community resources.
“Since we are not primary care providers, we will refer patients to Families First,” he said. She said Toussaint will also be volunteering at the Cross Roads House clinic, helping to make those connections.
Health care needed by Seacoast’s underserved populations
Leaders at Cross Roads House and the Willand Drive Warming Center say they are delighted to be able to provide medical care for their clients.
“I think having medical supports that can reach out to the community and provide critical supports is tremendous,” said John Burns, executive director of SOS Recovery Services, which runs the Willand Drive Warming Center for winter 2022-23. “Most of the people we serve in an emergency warming shelter are often unable to access traditional medical services and supports… We hope that other agencies and social service providers will also collaborate to break down barriers to access for our friends and loved ones. who are vulnerable and marginalized. It’s refreshing to work with partners who are putting their hearts and souls into lifting our community up.”
Plus:The Willand Drive Center Is Not A Full-Time Shelter For Winter 2022-23: Will It Be Enough?
Cross Roads House is serving as an overnight warming center for Rockingham County this winter season, adding to their mission and increasing the need for free healthcare.
“We are delighted with this,” said Will Arvelo, executive director of Cross Roads House. “Before COVID, we worked with Families First to provide healthcare to our residents. During COVID, that became more challenging. We are working with them again and appreciate this new connection. You have no idea how powerful it is for our residents to receive care of constant health.
Arvelo said Cross Roads’ customers are increasingly people over the age of 60.
“They may have significant underlying health problems,” he said. “Then there are young families with children. For this to happen on site is very important as many people here have mobility or transportation issues. There is a great need for this service in the Seacoast area, and we look forward to seeing this happen.” .”
The former Hampton Free Clinic offers a model
Johnson said he founded VIM-NH in March 2021 after “running across” the Volunteers in Medicine America website while doing research. And he was inspired, in part, by his past experience at Hampton.
Johnson said the VIM-NH clinic at Cross Roads House, where he will start seeing patients in January, is roughly modeled on the Hampton Free Clinic. She said that her plan is to begin offering services on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, at a time to be determined.
2016 story:Free Medical Clinic in Hampton closes its doors for the last time
“I think the sustainability of a free clinic is essential, so we won’t buy an expensive van,” he said. “Using existing space that the community trusts and uses, such as shelters or community centers, where VIM-NH plans to see patients. We want to reduce…barriers for patients to access care.”
The goal of VIM-NH is to create a mobile health unit or team that will travel to areas with high needs.
Johnson said he will offer urgent care services, such as care for COVID, strep, the flu and other respiratory illnesses. It will treat infections, asthma, hypertension and other chronic ailments.
She said that the primary care provided for children and adults can include:
- Acute problems such as respiratory infections, basic suture and skin rashes.
- Management of chronic diseases, including hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and gout.
- Treatment of musculoskeletal injuries or conditions.
- Evaluation and treatment of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression;
- Physical exams for work and school.
- Vaccine administrations, such as the COVID vaccine, tetanus, and flu shots.
- Point-of-care laboratory tests including urinalysis, pregnancy test, blood glucose, HgA1c, rapid strep, rapid COVID test, and rapid flu test.
- Pharmacy services to meet basic formulary drug needs; coupons to local pharmacies to reduce drug costs for patients.
- Intake for referrals to existing resources, such as starting applications for health insurance, food stamps, and other community organizations.
What help is needed for the Volunteers in Medicine clinics in NH?
Johnson said he has put together a great team to start with, but is still looking for help. She welcomes more volunteers and donations of basic medical supplies and even funds to help support the mission of free healthcare.
“Our volunteer team is made up of licensed healthcare workers and non-clinical volunteers to help with many tasks,” he said. “We have been very lucky to have a great team from the beginning.”
One volunteer, she noted, is Alyona Latsilnik, a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School who is a licensed nursing assistant, whom she has known for 10 years.
Johnson said that by using the VIM mobile free clinic model, his goal is to develop an active list of licensed healthcare workers in New Hampshire willing to volunteer their time and to simplify the volunteer process.
“Many of us want to contribute, but we don’t always know how or when,” he said.
Johnson said that once he gets the clinic up and running in 2023, his next goal is to partner with dental colleagues.
“We receive frequent visits related to dental problems, such as pain, abscesses and difficulties finding a dentist,” Johnson said. “Across the country, Volunteers in Medicine clinics are partnering with their dental colleagues and providing free dental care to patients in need. It would be awesome to provide a quarterly free dental clinic day in the near future. If there are any dentists who would like collaborate with us, please let us know. Involving students would also be a great way to do that.”
Johnson hopes his effort is just part of a larger effort to get healthcare to people who need it.
“I would love to see this become a movement that grows, so anyone interested in getting involved, here I am,” he said.
Those who wish to volunteer can go to vimnh.org/volunteer for information. Johnson encourages anyone who wishes to provide donations or assistance to email him at rjohnson@vimnh.org.