Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Grace Clinic do?A: Grace Clinic provides free medical and related services to uninsured people in the Tri-Cities through a holistic approach. We seek to meet the needs of the whole person by providing services such as medical care, medications, urgent dental care, mental health counseling, and spiritual care.
Q: Who uses Grace Clinic?A: Our patients are adults and children who have no health insurance and little ability to pay. The average Grace Clinic patient is a 44-year old employed Caucasian female. About 51% of our patients are Caucasian, 41% are Hispanic. We see slightly more women than men. Most of the Clinic’s patients are employed but without access to health insurance. The Washington State Insurance Commissioner forecasts by the end of 2011 there will be 40,000 uninsured people in Benton & Franklin counties.
Q: Are there any income limits for patients? A: Our income limit is 200% of the federal poverty level. We require proof of income for one month for all those working in the household. We ask patients what their monthly income is, because income limits apply if a patient is sent for outside services.
Q: Where is the Clinic?A: It’s at 3180 West Clearwater, Suite A, in Kennewick, Washington. It’s in the Clearwater Plaza, which is a small mall just off Clearwater. Johnson Street is one of the cross streets. The building is the former Sea Galley Restaurant, remodeled in 2006 as a medical clinic.
Q: When is it open?A: Currently our hours are:
Office Hours:
Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Medical Service Hours:
Tuesday 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Dental Clinic Service Hours:
Alternating Fridays and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The doors will open one hour prior to medical and dental service hours.
Dental Screening Hours:
Thursday 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. (Except the 2nd Thursday of each month.)
Life Coaching & Counseling Hours:
Tuesday 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday 7:30 a.m. to noon (Except the 2nd Thursday of each month.)
Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Dietician Hours:
By appointment only.
Diabetic Education:
By appointment only.
Watch for special classes.
Pharmacy Hours:
Friday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
On various other days and hours, staff and volunteers may be there taking care of administrative duties.
Q: Who operates the Clinic?A: The Clinic is a nonprofit organization that is operated by a board of directors representing various sectors of the community. The Clinic’s mission is to bring Christ’s love and healing to those in need, but it’s not operated by a church or by any of the local hospitals or clinics.
Q: Who staffs the clinic?A: The Clinic is primarily staffed by volunteers, though we do have a few employed staff. It takes about 30 people to run the Clinic each day it is open. All medical, dental, nursing and counseling professionals who see patients are properly licensed and qualified. Many are practicing health professionals in the community who are volunteering their time because they believe in Grace Clinic’s mission of serving the needy. All volunteers are trained and work under the supervision of team leaders. All volunteers undergo a background check as required by the State of Washington for medical facilities.
Q: How many people are helped?A: Since its establishment in 2002, Grace Clinic has provied more than 20,000 patients visit. Today, we provide for more than 400 patients each month, and that number is increasing.
Q: Do you take walk-ins, appointments, or both?A: Most medical patients are walk-ins. A few are given appointments on a case-by-case basis. At this time, all dental appointments are made after being screened for eligibility on Thursday's between 7:30-10:30am (except the second Thursday of the month). Other services such as counseling, diabetic education, and nutritional counseling are by appointment only. Laboratory and pharmacy services are provided on a walk-in basis.
Q: How much does Grace Clinic charge?A: Grace Clinic’s services are provided at no charge. We do encourage patients to give back through a small donation. We receive about $100 per week from patient donations.
Q: What is the Clinic’s annual operating budget?A: Currently, it’s about $350,000 per year, which pays for rent, utilities, lab fees, medications, medical and office supplies, and paid staff.
Q: Where does the Clinic get its funding? A: Grace Clinic is funded by individuals, churches, businesses, service clubs, grants, and a variety of organizations, such as the United Way.
Q: The Tri-Cities already has places like LaClinica and the Miramar Health Center (a clinic of theYakimaValley Farmworker’s Clinic System) for low-income patients. Why do we need another clinic?A: Grace Clinic is the Tri-Cities’ only free clinic for people with no health insurance.
Q: Do you require patients to prove that they don’t have health insurance?A: No.
Q: Do you require patients to show proof of citizenship?A: No.
Q: What are the requirements to come to Grace Clinic?A: You must be uninsured, bring in proof of income at the time of service and photo identification. If you are taking any current medications bring those with you too.
Q: What do you do for patients who don’t speak English?A: We encourage patients to bring their own interpreters (who must be over 18 years of age), but we do have volunteer interpreters who work at the Clinic. Most are bilingual in Spanish and English, and some know other languages.
Q: Do you provide any assistance for patients who don’t have transportation to the Clinic?A: No. But we are located on the Ben-Franklin Transit bus route.
Q: Why should I or my business support the Clinic? A: The Clinic benefits the entire community by helping keep people at work and kids in school. It helps keep the uninsured who might otherwise use the local hospital emergency rooms for non-emergency medical care, thus keeping medical costs down for the rest of us. People with chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure can be monitored more frequently, helping prevent disabling health emergencies that affect entire families.
Q: How can I help?A: Volunteer in an area that uses your gifts and talents. Donate supplies, products, and services. If you are a person of faith, pray for the Clinic. Financial support is a continuing need, with expenses increasing as more patients are seen. We rely on and deeply appreciate those who give financially, as an individual, business, service organization, or grantor. Your automated deduction from your financial institution enables us to better allocate monthly funds. We will also work with you to set up charitable bequests through your will or estate. Grace Clinic is a 501 (c)(3) organization, so your contribution is tax-deductible.
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