ACORN Fast Facts

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Introduction

ACORN Clinic (Alachua County Organization for Rural Needs, Inc.) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides health care primarily for residents of rural Alachua, Bradford and Union Counties. ACORN Clinic was founded in 1974 when two churches funded VISTA volunteers (Volunteers in Service to America) to serve the health care needs of rural residents and migrant workers in rural Alachua county. In 1974 the medical clinic opened to meet the growing needs of the rural uninsured of North Central Florida. At that time ACORN's healthcare volunteers focused on home visits and social service referrals. In 1984 ACORN Clinic moved to its present location in Brooker, Florida, 14 miles northeast of Gainesville on the Alachua/Bradford County line.

ACORN Clinic Funding

ACORN Clinic provides low-cost, high-quality medical and dental care, and social services for people with and without health insurance. Our primary target is patient's who aren't insured and can't afford private physicians, dentists or counselors. The Clinic fulfills its mission with the help of a broad-based core of volunteer physicians, nurses, dentists, hygienists, pharmacists and counselors. In addition to fees from patient care, ACORN receives funds from private and public sources including the United Way of North Central Florida, Suwannee River Area Health Education Center (SRAHEC); civic groups; churches; Alachua, Bradford and Union Counties; Medicaid; Medicare; private insurance; foundations; and, contributions from individual donors.

Program Demographics

98% of patients are at or below 180% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, 65% Caucasian, 26% African American, 8% Hispanic; 7% Other, 2% of patients are children, 30% are elderly, and 57% are middle aged.

ACORN Clinic Distribution of Patients

2009 Patient Care Highlights

General Medical Clinic: 7,470 clinic visits:

  • 4,236 Primary care for colds, flu, aches, pain, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and minor injuries. Services include appropriate lab tests, radiology, health education, weight management, employment, school an dannual physicals; and vision screening.
  • 710 Visits for chronic disease management education for diabetes, asthma and hypertension.
  • 273 Mental health, family, situational, lifestyle counseling, and health education.
  • 223 Visits for specialty care for treatment of heart disease, chronic breathing problems, rheumatiod arthritis, dermatology, hepatitis and allergic reactions.
  • 1,149 Medicine clinic visits provided, 1,969 formulary medications, 721 medication samples and 553 prescriptions (232,599 units) provided through the Pharmaceutical Assistance Program to qualified patients at a value of $1,131,929.

Women's Health Partnership Program: 879 clinic visits, 1,307 outreach contacts:

  • 879 clinical visits for pap smears, clinical breast exams, treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and uruinary tract infectsions, pelvic exams, pregnancy testing, family planning, menopause counseling and referrals for free mammograms.
  • 315 mammogram referrals to local radiologists.
  • 1,307 breast health self examinations.

Children's Clinic: 720 clinic visits, 2,433 dental outreach contacts:

  • 71 visits for colds, flu, minor illnesses, shots, well-baby exams; and school, camp and other physicals
  • Provides referrals to Children's Medical Services for children with growth, maturation issues and chronic illnesses
  • 2,433 outreach education contacts for the Dental Outreach Tooth Fairy program that serves elementary schools in an eight county area of rural north central Florida.
  • 649 Pediatric dental visits for routine oral health maintenance and treatment of dental caries for children aged 1 to 12 years.

ACORN accepts patients enrolled in or sponsored by Medicaid, Ryan White Foundation, Vocational Rehabilitation, Children's Medical Services and the UF Children's Preventative Dentistry Program.

Dental Clinic: 6,751 clinic visits:

  • 4,295 comprehensive dental visits for exams, fillings, x-rays, crowns and dentures
  • 1,587 visits for dental hygiene
  • 646 visits for oral surgery for extractions and minor oral surgery

Social Services: 183 clinic visits:

  • Evaluation of patient and family social service needs; offers workshops on legal issues and consultations with lawyers from Three Rivers Legal Services; assists with access to other social service organizations including food assistance and home repair; supports families in need during each holiday season with food donations, houshold items, toys and clothing.
  • Osteoporosis screening services in conjunction with the ElderCare of Alachua County

ACORN Total Patient Encounters: 17,961

Clinic Encounters