Partners Clinic

The St. Lucie County Partners in Medicine Clinic opened in March 2003 as a direct result of a collaborative community effort to address an identified community need--lack of access to health care for primarily uninsured and underinsured adults in St. Lucie County. This unique project serves as a true model of public/ private community collaboration resulting in enhanced access to medical care for the target population. Affordability is ensured through partnerships with Visiting Nurses Association, who donate services to the clinic, Stuart Medical Group, who donate pharmaceutical samples, South Florida Orthopedic and the Martin County Volunteers in Medicine, who both donated equipment and supplies, and the volunteer medical providers, who donated services.

The goal of this program is to improve access to health care for uninsured and underinsured adults.

Operating two days a week for a total of 103 clinic days, the clinic saw 583 clients and had 1406 patient visits during the first 12 months. The program achieved a cost savings over $830,000 in the first six months of operations, resulting in two consecutive State of Florida Tax Watch Davis Awards in 2002 and 2003. ER utilization data shows shorter ER wait times and decreased ER usage for non-emergency services.