Photo by Sovanski Photography It is time to celebrate the Health Care Access Clinic’s 20th anniversary! What started out in 1988 in one room with one volunteer and a $500 start up budget, 20 years later has grown into a primary care clinic that will serve almost 1800 patients through 3500 onsite appointments this year alone. We will provide over $1 million in free medication, make 900 referrals to the 160 physicians and health professionals in our community who volunteer their time and services, and coordinate over $2 million in donated hospital services to improve the health and lives of our patients. Since 2005 we have increased access to women’s health care five-fold and in just the past five months have reduced by half the waiting time for appointments for the low income, uninsured residents of Douglas County who utilize our services.

All of these achievements are possible because of the generosity of friends and neighbors, who have contributed a variety of gifts to the Health Care Access Clinic over the years. These gifts are not only monetary but represent the value of time, effort and concern and all help us in our mission to serve even more of those in our community who are not covered by any private or governmental insurance programs. Over 80% of our patients are gainfully employed yet still lack access to health care coverage either because they cannot afford to purchase health insurance for themselves and their family members, are not offered health insurance coverage by their employers, or do not qualify for government-subsidized or sponsored health insurance.