Our Services:
The Community Health Services of Addison County (CHSAC) - Open Door Clinic (ODC) provides free health care services for adults who are uninsured and underinsured that meet financial eligibility guidelines (up to 300% Federal Poverty Level). Our goal is to provide quality healthcare for patients until they become enrolled in private or public insurance programs and are transitioned to a permanent primary care home.
Founded in 1991, CHSAC first operated as a mobile clinic before moving to a static clinic model. Today, the Open Door Clinic operates as a hybrid, holding regular clinics in Middlebury and Vergennes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and conducting outreach clinics at various churches and community settings. ODC has 2.75 FTE employees and 100 volunteers providing the majority of our services. The volunteers are physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physical therapists, dieticians, college students, and local residents.
In 2010, over 2,000 volunteer hours were donated to ODC equaling $126,522 in donated work hours. An additional $94,429 in lab and radiology services and $12,384 in pharmaceuticals were donated. In return, 842 patients were provided healthcare services including routine physical exams, acute and chronic care, health maintenance, physical therapy, woman's health, nutrition counseling, anonymous HIV testing and counseling, prescription assistance and assistance with Green Mountain Care applications.
In Vermont, 13.6% of adults between the ages of 19 and 64 are uninsured. For our patient population which is low income adults (under 300% of federal poverty level), the uninsured rate jumps to 23.5%. The typical patient we see is employed, at least part-time yet their employer does not offer health insurance or the premiums are exorbitant.
Kaiser Family Foundation determined that 10% of Vermont adults could not see a doctor because of cost. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that uninsured adults are 7 times more likely to forego needed medical care as the insured. For uninsured adults with diabetes, they are 6 times more likely to forego medical care resulting in significant morbidity for those patients. Our patient count has increased 7% from 2008 to 2010, yet we still serve only 17% of the uninsured in Addison County.
Our patients are our neighbors, friends and family. They run the farms that feed us, run the restaurants that cater to our visitors, and build the houses that keep us warm. All are forced to gamble that they won't get sick or injured. These are vulnerable populations that have few options for healthcare. The Open Door Clinic provides comprehensive primary care in our Middlebury and Vergennes clinics on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and occasional Friday mornings.
We guarantee all medical records are kept confidential.
Call for an appointment
Open Door Clinic
100 Porter Drive
Middlebury, VT 05753
802.388.0137
opendoormidd@gmail.com
Because email is not secure, please call with medical or appointment related questions.
