The Community Free Clinic came into existence on February 13, 1990 shortly after Dr. Martin Gallagher arrived in Hagerstown.  Dr. Gallagher became acutely aware that there was a significant population of people in the area that were not receiving health care because they had no health care benefits or health care resources.  This population of patients includes but is not limited to:

• The working patient:  The majority of Clinic patients are employed, either fulltime or part time but are not offered health care benefits, or cannot afford the health care insurance premiums.  We provide care for those that are between jobs and are not yet eligible for insurance.

• This displaced/homeless:  Those individuals that are fleeing abusive situations, have recently lost health care benefits due to the loss of employment, the homeless, have recently been released from prison or the detention center, divorced/separated men and women.

• The recently uninsured:  Young adults no longer carried on their parents insurance.

• The loss of primary care physician:  Those individuals/families with outstanding medical bills with their physicians and are unable to return to the practice because of unpaid medical expenses. 

Dr. Gallagher and several other health care professionals as well as 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 utilizing sample medications provided by physicians offices, and obtaining operating funds as needed for office supplies, etc. from community donations.

The first step was to find space from which to work in an area that would be accessible to the majority of the under-served population.  In February 1990 the Union Rescue Mission on Prospect Street in Hagerstown generously donated that much needed space in a downtown location.  The clinic moved to its next location at 18 W. Franklin Street on February 13, 1996.

Based on 2008 statistics, the Community Free Clinic has evolved over time to become an important health care resource in our community.  The Clinic now employs 5 full time employees:  Executive Director, Program Director, Licensed Practical Nurse, Medical Assistant and a Patient Advocate.  In addition, there are 7 part-time staff members:  an Office Manager, 2 Clinic Secretaries, a Medical Assistant, 2 Registered Nurses, and a part-time Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner.

In 2008 alone, the Clinic provided 14,936 patient visits and dispensed 36,134 prescription medications with a retail value of  $2,935,526 million dollars worth of prescription medication.  The Clinic continues appointment scheduling.  Patients in the past were seen on a first come first serve basis.  Averaging over 1320 patient visits per month, the Clinic still schedules appointments in advance.  The Clinic continues to see a steady trend in increased demand for services.