The Community Free Clinic is a resource that addresses the needs of the medically uninsured in Washington County, Maryland. Across the nation there are approximately 600 free clinics in operation. Our clinic opened its doors in 1990 and, to this day, continues to provide medical care and prescription medication to residents free of charge. Many of our patients are facing life threatening situations when they enter Clinic doors. Often times, patients are forced to make the choice between food and shelter or much needed medications. The Clinic not only addresses medical needs, but acts as a resource to direct patients to other community organizations that may offer additional assistance or services.

The Community Free Clinic opened our doors on February 13, 1990 shortly after Marty Gallagher, M.D. arrived in Hagerstown.  Dr. Gallagher became empathetically aware that there was a significant population of people in the area that were not receiving health care because they had no medical benefits, resources or care. 

Dr. Gallagher and several other health care professionals and lay volunteers were determined to remove barriers to health care for all members of our community by creating, staffing, and supporting an alternative health care delivery system. The idea was to provide free health care by using the medical expertise of Dr. Gallagher, dispensing sample medications donated by local physician offices, and by obtaining operating fund from community donations and grants.

The first step was to find space from which to work in an area that would be accessible to the majority of the underserved population.  In February 1990, the Union Rescue Mission on Prospect Street in Hagerstown generously donated much needed space in a downtown location.  After establishing traction and significant growth, the Clinic moved to its next location on Franklin Street in 1996. Through a series of blessings and opportunities, the Clinic’s current location became available in 2008. We now occupy a fully operational medical clinic building with a large waiting room, functioning front office, over 5 usable rooms for screening and exams, a large storage area, a central medication dispensing room and other administration offices.

Based on statistical trends and historical achievements, the Community Free Clinic has evolved over time to become an important health care resource in our community.  The Clinic now employs 13 full and part-time staff. In addition, over 50 professionald and lay volunteers assist in the daily operation of patient care. Over 30 physicians come to the Clinic as volunteers to provide medical treatment and continuous care to our patients. In the community, we are blessed with over 80 physicians and specialty clinics that accept our referred patients at no charge or with reduced fees.

At our current pace, the Clinic provides greater than 15,000 patient visits each year dispensing over 36,000 prescription medications with a retail value of totally more than $3,000,000.  Averaging over 1300 patient visits per month, the Clinic continues to see a steady growth in demand for services.