Hope Medical Clinic, Inc.

Ypsilanti, Mich.
Grant Amount: $12,000

Incorporated in 1987, Hope Medical Clinic serves the “working poor,” those with low-paying part-time or temporary jobs that do not offer health insurance, as well as the self-employed, the homeless, and recent immigrants. Last year, 130 volunteer medical professionals donated more than 3,600 hours of clinical services. The value of these services, plus donated goods exceeded $1.6 million. Another $1.4 million worth of prescription medications were provided to patients through pharmaceutical companies’ medicine assistance programs. Overall, for every dollar spent, approximately $3.70 worth of services are provided.

While Hope Medical Clinic is located in Washtenaw County, Michigan, about one-third of their patients over the past three years have been Wayne County residents. Many of these patients are not eligible for free x-ray and laboratory services at the clinic’s partner hospital, St. Joseph Mercy Health System in Ann Arbor, because they are outside of the hospital’s area. In addition, there is no public transportation to Ypsilanti from Wayne County; many patients are forced to cancel appointments because they have no transportation or cannot afford gasoline. To meet this need, Hope Medical Clinic decided to open a satellite clinic in western Wayne County last year.

The AMA Foundation is providing Hope Medical Clinic with a $12,000 grant to further develop and expand this Wayne satellite clinic. Funds will be used to support the salaries of a clinic coordinator and office manager, and program supplies. Their goals for the Wayne clinic are to add two additional clinic sessions, formalize a partnership with St. Mary Mercy Hospital to provide x-ray and laboratory services, recruit six local volunteer specialists who will see patients at no charge, and provide 750 patient visits this year.