ACORN Fast Facts

Introduction

ACORN Clinic (Alachua County Organization for Rural Needs, Inc.) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides health care primarily for residents of rural Alachua, Bradford and Union Counties. ACORN Clinic was founded in 1974 when two churches funded VISTA volunteers (Volunteers in Service to America) to serve the health care needs of rural residents and migrant workers in rural Alachua county. In 1974 the medical clinic opened to meet the growing needs of the rural uninsured of North Central Florida. At that time ACORN's healthcare volunteers focused on home visits and social service referrals. In 1984 ACORN Clinic moved to its present location in Brooker, Florida, 14 miles northeast of Gainesville on the Alachua/Bradford County line.

ACORN Clinic provides low-cost, high-quality medical and dental care, and social services for people with and without health insurance. Our primary target is patient's who aren't insured and can't afford private physicians, dentists or counselors. The Clinic fulfills its mission with the help of a broad-based core of volunteer physicians, nurses, dentists, hygienists, pharmacists and counselors. In addition to fees from patient care, ACORN receives funds from private and public sources including the United Way of North Central Florida, Suwannee River Area Health Education Center (SRAHEC); civic groups; churches; Alachua, Bradford and Union Counties; Medicaid; Medicare; private insurance; foundations; and, contributions from individual donors.

Program Demographics

98% of patients are at or below 180% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, 67% Caucasian, 24% African American, 8% Hispanic; 1% Other, 15% of patients are children, 30% are elderly, and 55% are middle aged.

2005 Patient Care Highlights

General Medical Clinic: 7,132 clinic visits:

• 2,831 Primary care for colds, flu, aches, pain, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, chronic breathing problems, arthritis, allergies, hepatitis, minor injuries, and chronic health problems
• 1,951 Provides lab testing, health education, weight management, tuberculosis, cancer screening and employment and annual physicals
• 547 Offers personal, family, situational, lifestyle counseling, and health education.
• Provides access to specialty care: cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology, neurology, occupational and physical therapy, orthopedics, pulmonology, rheumatology, and therapeutic massage
• 1,708 visits to the Medicine Clinic to receive free or low-cost medications valued at $1,311,774
• 95 physical therapy visits

Women's Clinic: 1,930 clinic and outreach visits:

• 813 GYN services: Offers pap smears, breast and pelvic exams, pregnancy testing, family planning, and STD treatment
• 1,117 breast health education, nutrition education, and self-breast examination education
• FREE or low cost mammogram referrals and menopause counseling

Children's Clinic: 3,437 clinic visits:

• 112 visits for colds, flu, minor illnesses, shots, well-baby exams; and school, camp and other physicals
• Provides referrals to Children's Medical Services for children with growth, maturation issues and chronic illnesses
• 2,702 outreach education contacts for the Dental Outreach Tooth Fairy program to 25 elementary schools in six counties. Provide dental care under contract for low-income children from surrounding counties of Central Florida and children enrolled in HeadStart from Bradford, Union, Suwannee, Hamilton, Lafayette, and Columbia Counties
• 623 pediatric dentistry visits. ACORN accepts funds from Medicaid, Ryan White Foundation, Vocational Rehabilitation, Children's Medical Services and the UF Children's Preventative Dentistry Program

Dental Clinic: 5,090 clinic visits:

• 3,038 Dental visits for exams, fillings, x-rays, crowns, dentures
• 1,112 visits for dental hygiene
• 317 visits for oral surgery for extractions and minor oral surgery

Social Services: 516 clinic visits:

• Home visits to the elderly, disabled, extremely impoverished patients for assessment, contact and health care
• Evaluation of patient and family social service needs
• Offers workshops on legal issues and consultations with lawyers from Three Rivers Legal Services
• Assists with access to other social services organizations including food assistance and home repair
• Supports families in need during each holiday season with donations of food, household items, toys and clothing.
• During 2005, the Clinic adopted 45 families with assistance from the Volunteer Center, ACORN staff, local churches and civic groups
• Osteoporosis screening services in conjunction with the ElderCare of Alachua County

ACORN Total Patient Encounters: 17,482

Between 1985 and 2005, clinic contacts have increased from 1,000 to 17,482. In 2005 ACORN Clinic served 17,482 people. 54% of the patients were from Alachua County, 27% from Bradford County, 9% from Union County and 10% from other counties in North Central Florida.

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ACORN Clinic pools the resources of the volunteer healthcare community to provide services to the rural uninsured. Healthcare professionals contributed 14,576 hours of their time. Of these, University of Florida and private dentists, oral surgeons, hygienists and dental assistants gave 59% or 8,554 hours, physicians and nurse practitioners 16% or 2,508 hours, counselors 8% or 1,099 hours, pharmacists 13% or 1,899 hours, medical assistants and office support staff 3% or 438 and 1% alternative medicine or 78 hours. The volunteer services provided at ACORN Clinic in 2005 are valued at $2.1 million using the Florida Department of Health Values data. Through volunteerism, with every $1 contributed, ACORN Clinic provides $37 in direct patient care to its clients.