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The Clinic began treating patients in October of 2000. From that first day the number of patient visits has continued to grow as well as the medical services provided. The inspiration for the Clinic came from Our Lady of Mercy Social Ministry Board. A committee was looking for ways to reach out and respond to the challenges of the Biblical message, which tells us to care for those less fortunate. A special projects committee of the Board researched opportunities in Montgomery County and agreed that the limited medical resources in the upcounty area for the uninsured poor adult were a critical need. Children and expectant mothers in the county were eligible for government-assisted health care, but other adults in the county were not.
The Mercy Health Clinic Committee met with Lynn Frank, the Chief Medical Officer of Health and Human Services of Montgomery County who confirmed the need and offered her support for the establishment of Mercy Health Clinic. The committee also networked with other local and county organizations to assess the health care needs and to establish partnerships.
In October 1999, individuals interested in working to establish a clinic held their first meeting. The 56 people who attended were very enthusiastic, but it was clear that there were a number of issues that had to be resolved before the Clinic could become a reality. An accessible and convenient site, insurance coverage, hospital and laboratory assistance and financial backing were among the issues identified.
These challenges were resolved through the support of the Montgomery County, Health and Human Services Department that has assisted with insurance coverage and rent-free office space in a government building. Donations of supplies and service came from a wide range of organizations but a key contributor and partner was the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. Some of the other organizations providing support included the Primary Care Coalition, African American Health Initiative, Holy Cross Hospital, Suburban Hospital, Projecto Salud, and the Upcounty Latino Network.
Though the creative talents of numerous people brought the Clinic to reality there were four individuals who provided the early leadership that warrant special recognition. Alvina Long and Colleen Wallace who co chaired the clinic committee, Dr. James Ronan, a cardiologist with Adventist Health Care, who served as Medical Director, and Donna Romer, a registered nurse, who coordinated the medial support and drug programs. More than one hundred volunteers were involved in working out all the operational issues and providing patient services. Those early volunteers have been joined by a large number of other talented people to make the Mercy Health Clinic a non-sectarian, community based resouce for upper Mongomery County.
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The Need -The Montgomery County Commission on Health 1999-2000 reported that there were as many as 150,000 uninsured people living in Montgomery County. Many are low paid workers or seasonal workers whose jobs do not provide health benefits. These residents often avoid seeking necessary health care or sought assistance at the emergency rooms of local hospitals where they incurred expenses there were unable to pay. According to community health care providers, social workers and county agencies, the need for health care services for the working poor was most critical in the Germantown area. The Montgomery County Commission on Health reported that mortality rates were generally highest in the upcounty region, as are cancer trends. "The upcounty has the farthest to go to meet U.S. goals", the study stated.
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