Mercy Health Clinic (MHC) is a non-sectarian, not-for-profit, community health care provider. The Clinic serves uninsured, low-income adult residents of Montgomery County, Maryland and has been committed to providing high quality medical care, educational support and pharmaceuticals to eligible patients since its inception in 2000. MHC recognizes the multi-cultural diversity of its patients and pledges to maintain and develop services and programs, which best meet the current and future health care needs of this constituency.
GoalsIn order to continuing our high quality of care, we have established the following goals:
- Provide accessible and high quality medical, educational and pharmaceutical services to eligible patients.
- Continually develop human, physical, and financial efficiencies.
- Recognize and adapt to the changing health need of its patients.
- Continually seek ways and means to reasonably and deliberately expand and improve services, while eliminating health care disparities.
- Maintain current partner relationships, while seeking new strategic partners and supporters.
- Provide an environment that recognizes the contributions of its staff and volunteers.
- Enhance MHC visibility in the local community.
- Practice the highest level of ethical standards.
The idea of establishing a medical clinic that would serve the uninsured, low-income residents of Montgomery County had its origin in the Social Concerns Committee of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in the late 1990s. After thoroughly researching the subject, the committee determined that the medical needs of many uninsured adults, particularly in the Up-County area, were not being addressed.
In October 1999, individuals interested in working to establish a clinic held their first meeting. The fifty-some people who attended were enthusiastic, but it was evident that there were a number of issues that had to be resolved before the Clinic could become a reality. An accessible and convenient site, hospital and laboratory assistance, insurance coverage and financial backing were some of the issues that were identified. With major assistance from the County and by networking with local and county organizations, the Clinic Committee was eventually able to resolve all the obstacles that stood in the way of establishing a new medical clinic.
On October 3, 2000 Mercy Health Clinic opened its door at the Upcounty Regional Service Center in Germantown, Maryland. There were three exam rooms and rather limited space for the nursing and administrative staff. Over the course of the next six years, the Clinic was able to share the use of three more exam rooms with a unit of Montgomery Public Health and to achieve a slight expansion of its space for administration. However, by 2005 it was clear that the clinic site was no longer able to accommodate a growing patient population.
In 2006, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services identified a suitable site in Gaithersburg, Maryland and, after much planning and some unanticipated delays, the new facility opened in June 2007 on Metropolitan Court.
More recently, the Clinic has expanded the Metropolitan Court site to include a new 1,800 square foot addition. Completed in November 2010, the addition provides more functional space for eligibility screening of patients, a larger room for Lifestyle Education and Diabetes programs, and administrative offices. The new space has also allowed for rooms in the original clinic to be converted into work stations for nurses, educators, and patient navigators, a physician’s study, and a clinic kitchen for volunteer and staff use.
Much has been accomplished in the past eleven years and is attributable to the original group of people who conceived the idea of Mercy Health Clinic and worked so hard to make it a reality.