Our Story:
In March of 2006 two local physicians, Dr. Tom Gore and Dr. Bob Copeland had a vision to develop a medical clinic for the WORKING poor or near poor of Troup County, Georgia.
Their vision was to create a clinic for those in our area that are working and trying to support their respective families, pay their rent, make their car payment, pay their other financial obligations and in many cases, send their children to college, along with trying everyday to make ends meet.
These are the citizens that fall through the cracks in not only our nation’s medical services but in many other areas as well.
This group is comprised of the ones that the two founding doctors envisioned supporting. Those individuals who are the hard working members of our society that simply need a little support and help.
To establish the model that our founding physicians envisioned, two long years of meetings, discussions, and probably some frustration culminated in what we now have in operation, the Troup Cares Free Clinic.
In June of 2007, the Troup Cares Free Clinic saw its first patient, and we have not slowed down from that point in time.
Our clinic is a member of an umbrella, the Troup Cares Network, Inc. Under this umbrella we have four entities:
- The Troup Cares Free Clinic
- The Troup Cares Pharmaceutical Assistance Program
- The Troup Cares Care Management Program
- The Troup Cares (First Baptist Church on the Square) Dental Clinic
Each of these entities is supported by the Troup Cares Network, Inc. which provides guidance, organization of both in-kind assistance and financial help.
In June of 2009, we hired a full time nurse practitioner along with a full time care manager / registered nurse. This event allowed the clinic to move into a three full-day operation. In December of 2010, the clinic expanded to include Mondays.
Currently we have a network of twenty-eight volunteer doctors that volunteer their time and talents to the clinic. Four doctors serve as in-clinic practitioners and the remaining twenty-four are specialists that are available on a referral basis. We also have four registered nurses that volunteer their time within the clinic setting. These individuals are the backbone of the free clinic.
Currently we have a network of 39 volunteer practitioners which include physicians, chiropractic, optometry, physical therapy and podiatry. Six physicians serve as in-clinic practitioners and the remaining 33 are specialists that are available on a referral basis. We also have nine nurses that volunteer their time within the clinic setting.
Our specialists include ,but are not limited to, cardiology, chiropractic,dermatology, gastroenterology, gynecology, nephrology, neurology, optometry, orthopedics, physical therapy, podiatry, pulmonology, surgery, and urology. .
These doctors and nurses are special and donate their time and talents on a no fee basis.
With our entire mission in place the clinic is open four days per week, one night per week and we have physician referral services available five days per week along with our pharmaceutical and care manager functions.
Accomplishments ---- We at the Troup Cares Free Clinic have provided our patients with something that they have never had --- A Medical Home. Our patients can now come to our clinic at the onset of medical issues, and in most cases we can handle it either in house or through one of our many specialists. This is a major breakthrough away from the emergency room cycle into which so many of our patients have fallen.
We have also established a full time Care Management program and Pharmaceutical Assistance program for our patients. These two programs have allowed our professional staff the opportunity to work with and plan for the medical and care direction for each of our patients. We have already seen many examples of in house solutions to medical issues which eliminated visits to the emergency room and possible hospital admission. Our patients are now calling the Troup Cares Free Clinic at the onset of medical problems. This is how it should be.