The FernCare Free Clinic Board of Directors has set up a free medical clinic for the citizens of Ferndale, Hazel Park and surrounding communities.
The clinic treats individuals from 19 through 64 years of age who have no health insurance of any kind, public or private. We provide maintenance care of chronic illness, do checkups, diagnose and treat acute day-to-day illness, dispense generic medications, do basic lab testing, help our patients with community resource access and have social workers available for consultations. We make some specialist referrals.
We do not do obstetrics or gynocology, diagnose or treat sexually transmitted infections or treat any cancer issues as any stage. The pharmacy does not stock any controlled drugs, psychotropic drugs, medical marijuana or narcotics of any sort.
BUT we can’t hope to offer this needed service without volunteers. All free clinics are staffed by people who volunteer.
Insurance Protection
Our clinic health care volunteers are insured by (1) the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 (VPA) at federal level. This offers protections for any physicians or parctitioners volunteering all all nonprofit health facilities. The VPA provides that no volunteer of a non profit organization is liable for harmn caused by an act or omission of the volunteer on behalf of the entity if the following conditions, among others are met: (a) the volunteer was acting within the scope of his or her responsibilities (b) the volunteer was properly licensed, certified or authorized; and (C) the harm was not caused by willfull or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed by the volunteer. Unlike the FTCA, the VPA does not provide that the practitioners are dismissed from the lawsuit and the federal gevernment become the defendant. Rather, the VPA exempts practitioners from liability in the event of a lawsuit, if the practitioner proves the above conditions were met. VPA also makes it very difficult for a cliamant to obtain punitive damages of obtain non-economic losses against a volunteer. (2) Michigan’s Good Samaritan Law – MCL 333.16277. Michigan law limits liability for health care practitioners who render non-emergency care on a voluntary basis (i.e. don’t receive compensation). They are not liable in a civil action for damages for acts or omissions in providing such care, unless the acts or omissions results from gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct or were intended to injure the patient. This limitation on liability extends to dentists, physicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and physician’s assistants.
(3) We also carry a general liability policy for all staff.
The clinic is open twice a month, generally the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, 9 Am to noon.
We are trying to put together 4 teams of medical/health care staff……..each team only working one day every eight weeks.
We are looking for Physicians, Registered Nurses, Physican Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists, Pharmacist techs and lab techs.
If you are interested in volunteering as a health care volunteer, please complete the form listed below and email it and a copy of your license or certification and a copy of your photo ID to dengate436@aol.com. Diane is Head Nurse and can answer any questions you have. You can also mail completed forms to 445 W. Woodruff, Hazel Park, MI 48030. This is our business address. If you have questions about volunteering or the clinic in general or want to volunteer at the welcome desk or general assistance, please e-mail the Clinic Manager, Coni Schmidt at cschmidt@ferncare.org.
Follow Us!