March 19, 2013

The Free Clinic Introduces a New Overdose Prevention Program

The Free Clinic is now part of a groundbreaking new program, Cuyahoga County Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided with Naloxone), a program directed to opioid users who are at risk of overdose death due to use of heroin or pain medications.  Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an overdose caused by an opioid drug.  When administered during an overdose, Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and restores breathing within two to eight minutes.

This exciting collaboration with MetroHealth will enable opioid users to visit The Free Clinic on a walk-in basis every Friday from 1:00 to 5:00pm to pick up Naloxone kits and receive instruction on how to recognize and respond to an overdose and how to administer intranasal Naloxone to reverse the opioid overdose.  All training will be provided onsite at The Free Clinic by MetroHealth physician, Dr. Joan Papp.

Each naloxone kit (pictured on the left) contains two doses of Naloxone, two atomizers, a mouth barrier, a takeaway DVD copy of the training on when and how to use the product, and information on detox referrals.  The kits are available free of charge to opioid users thanks to funding provided by the Office of County Executive Edward Fitzgerald, The MetroHealth System and the Ohio Department of Health.

The Free Clinic is one of only two locations in Ohio authorized to distribute these kits to users and the only one in northern Ohio, although plans are underway to open other community distribution sites in the near future.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unintentional drug overdose death rates have tripled since 1990 and in 2008 were responsible for 36,000 deaths in the United States.  Opioid analgesics prescribed for the treatment of pain are the main cause of increase in overdose deaths, and prescription opioids such as OxyContin and hydrocodone (Vicodin®) are involved in more overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine combined.

In Ohio, from 1999 to 2010, death rates due to unintentional drug overdose increased 372 percent; 63% of those deaths involved opioids.  Each day, 4 Ohioans die because of drug overdose.

February 28, 2013

Bowing Out Gratefully

The Free Clinic was the beneficiary of a gift of more than $3,000 when the Alliance of The Greater Cleveland Dental Society decided to disband and distribute its remaining operating funds to a worthy cause.  For 61 years the nonprofit, philanthropic organization made up of the spouses of local dentists devoted itself to providing dental health education to individuals of all ages.  Dwindling numbers of volunteers caused the remaining society members to officially end the alliance writing, “We are proud of our past donations to The Free Medical Clinic and trust that this donation will bring dental health to a demographic that is most in need of your services.  We recognize and appreciate all the good work which your organization has accomplished in Greater Cleveland.” 

On Monday, February 25, four of the dental society’s most stalwart volunteers presented the farewell check to The Free Clinic’s Executive Director Danny Williams and Dental Services Director Regina Savage, DDS.  Thank YOU dedicated dental society volunteers for your many years of service working to promote oral health in northeast Ohio right to the very end.

Picture:  Alliance of The Greater Cleveland Dental Society members (seated left to right) Michele Goldberg, Lynda Sabat, Kathy Kne and Suzann B. Glenn presented a going out of business check to Danny Williams (far left) and Dr. Savage (far right).  

February 1, 2013

Oberlin's Winter Term Provides Students an Opportunity to Explore Careers through Service

This January, four Oberlin College students spent their 2013 Winter Term volunteering at The Free Clinic.  Winter Term is a month-long semester at nearby Oberlin College that requires students to complete a self-directed project to further their education outside of the classroom.

January 2, 2013

In the News - The Free Clinic Featured in Plain Dealer's Holiday Spirit Spotlight

A patient since 2008, Brett Miller came to The Free Clinic seeking help with chronic depression.  After receiving ongoing care at The Free Clinic, Brett saw improvement in his depression, and he recently finished his law degree and passed the bar exam.  Brett was recently featured in a Plain Dealer article entitled "Cleveland's Free Medical Services Help People Get Their Lives Back."  The article was part of a series that ran in association with the Plain Dealer's Holiday Spirit campaign, an annual effort by The Plain Dealer Charities to help local human service organizations during a time of giving.

Read Brett's interview and the full Plain Dealer article here.  Brett gives back to The Free Clinic by participating on the Patient Advisory Committee, a group of dedicated patients who provide feedback and share ideas on The Free Clinic services and programs.