Upper Valley Free Clinic thrives thanks to partnership with Cascade Medical
The Upper Valley Free Clinic operates out of the Cascade Medical building on Monday evenings. Having the free clinic located at a location already set up for medical care is one of the reasons the Free Clinic thrives, says Free Clinic Manager Dr. Karl Kranz.
The Upper Valley Free Clinic has been a cornerstone of the Upper Valley community for more than 25 years. It provides medical care to those who need it, regardless of ability to pay.
The clinic’s resilience can be attributed primarily to its dedicated volunteers. Physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, interpreters and clerical staff all contribute to the weekly clinic’s ability to see hundreds of patients a year. Although some of the volunteers are retired, many are still working—some even show up to the Free Clinic directly after their work day.
In addition to its people, the Free Clinic’s longevity is also due to its partnership with Cascade Medical.
The Free Clinic was originally started by several members of the Leavenworth Faith Lutheran Church in 2000, including John Schramm, Laurie Peek and Dr. Karl Kranz. The original plan was to have the clinic in one of the local fruit-packing warehouses. Dr. Kranz and Doug Williams—Cascade Medical’s CEO at the time—decided it would better serve the community if it was located at Cascade Medical.
In 2009, when Faith Lutheran handed administration of the Free Clinic over to Upper Valley MEND, the partnership with Cascade Medical remained in place. Cascade Medical still provides the space for the Free Clinic to operate, in addition to performing lab tests and imaging services for its patients.
Cascade Medical CEO Diane Blake sees the Free Clinic as an essential component for making sure everyone in the Upper Valley gets the care they need.
“In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need free clinics,” says Diane. “But we don’t live in a perfect world.”
Care options for everyone
Although Cascade Medical also offers free and reduced cost care for those who qualify based on their income level, Diane is aware there are still some barriers to care that the Free Clinic helps address. Some people may be reluctant to sign up for individualized free or reduced cost care because they don’t want a handout but feel differently about going to the Free Clinic because it’s free for everyone. Others may prefer the Free Clinic because there’s no application process.
“It’s a way to get care that feels accessible,” she says. “It helps us take fuller care of all our community.”
Cascade Medical’s free and reduced cost program and the Free Clinic are available for people regardless of whether or not they have medical insurance. Often, people can’t afford their copays or the cost of services before they hit their deductibles, which may lead to patients deciding to forgo medical care unless it’s an emergency. Cascade Medical’s financial programs allow patients to continue to see their primary care providers for preventative care, even if the cost through their insurance is more than they can afford.
“I would encourage people to continue with their primary care provider,” says Diane. “Continuity of care is an absolute necessity for long-term health. We have resources to help with that.”
Ultimately, the resources the Free Clinic and Cascade Medical offer are what make medical care more accessible for the people who need them.
“Cascade Medical’s committed support is the best thing that ever happened to the Free Clinic besides MEND,” says Dr. Kranz, who now manages the Free Clinic. “Not only are we able to provide care in a space already set up for medical appointments, we also have the ability to order labs and imaging for patients that they can take care of in Leavenworth—without having to travel down valley—saving them both time and money. This feels like another way to meet our patients’ needs with dignity.”
In turn, says Diane, Cascade Medical recognizes how MEND’s programs increase well-being within the community—both within the medical sphere and beyond.
“There are a number of factors that affect health and wellness and MEND really addresses a lot of those key needs,” she says. “We’re grateful to partner with MEND on caring for folks.”