Healthcare can be complex and expensive even for those with insurance. For those without insurance it can mean the difference between living healthy, productive lives and suffering from treatable conditions. Hope Medical Clinic (HMC) began in 2008 with a question and a charge: Is it possible to provide free healthcare to the working uninsured and medically underserved populations of Okaloosa and Walton counties? The answer is yes, and here is how:
Hope Medical Clinic (HMC), which is headquartered in Destin, FL, and serves individuals in the Florida Panhandle, specifically 4,200 unduplicated, uninsured individuals (via 9,500 encounters) from Bay, Walton, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties. We, in partnership with our community, provide free, accessible, Primary Health Care, as well as Women's Health, prescription assistance, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, basic lab work and blood analysis, case management, education related to health promotion and maintenance, and referrals to medical specialists, social services, and healthcare programs. 
Services are provided in-person, via telehealth, and via the phone.
The Florida Panhandle suffers a specific problem which has only been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic: lack of access to healthcare. 
Our nation’s healthcare system was already experiencing shortfalls: there are shortages of primary care providers and nurses, decreasing numbers of emergency rooms and yet increasing use of existing emergency rooms for non-urgent care – all of this combines with an increasing cost of care and an increased need for medical care amidst a pandemic to result in a perfect storm. 
Our clinic has two locations – one in Freeport and one in Destin – and much of the area we serve is classified by HRSA as medically underserved and having a health professional shortage with limited options for free or charitable medical services. 
Patient demographics reflect the following: 14% African American/Black, 49% Caucasian, 34% Hispanic/Latino, 1% Asian, and 2% Other/No Answer. The bulk (94%) of HMC patients are ages 18-64, 4% are 65+, and 2% are 17 years and younger; approximately 60% are female and 40% are male. Approximately 33% of our patients have four or more comorbidities which make them extremely vulnerable to complications from COVID-19, while 74% have two or more comorbidities which are considered high risk.

Special placement information:
Accepting BSW, MSW 1st-year, and MSW 2nd-year/Advanced Standing (clinical) students. Full- and part-time positions available.
Student will most likely need transportation to the clinic. Agency does not have many options for public transportation.
Two locations: Free port and Destin, FL. Once student identifies which works best there should be no travel required between clinics.
Liability insurance provided by agency.
Agency hours: 9:00AM-4:00PM, Monday-Friday. Weekend hours not available. Evening hours available sparingly.
Video-/Audio-taping permitted on a case-by-case bases and with permission.