The Decorah Community Free Clinic is continuing its mission to provide health care and education to uninsured and under-insured individuals in our extended community.
The “Free Clinic,” as it is commonly known, began as a project of the Decorah Area Faith Coalition in 2002 and has served thousands of patients over the past 21 years. For much of its history, the Free Clinic was housed in offices and educational spaces of First Lutheran Church. The clinic closed temporarily at the onset of the COVID pandemic, but for the last year and a half has operated out of the Carriage House near First Lutheran Church. In the next several months, a new location will be established at the Decorah First United Methodist Church.
The clinic previously operated as a weekly “walk-in” clinic on Thursday evenings. Since reopening in the Carriage House, the clinic has been open two Thursday evenings per month, by appointment only. Patients come from Winneshiek and surrounding counties for treatment of acute illness as well as management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. In the past year, 270 people sought and received assistance, with the clinic providing an estimated $46,640 worth of services.
“I find that patients are incredibly grateful for the care they receive,” noted clinic Medical Director Dr. Lisa Zittergruen. “While I wish there was not a need for a Free Clinic, I enjoy volunteering and I know we are able to prevent numerous ER visits and medical complications.”
The clinic relies on community support to continue this work. Donations from individuals and churches provide the primary financial support, with assistance from charitable organizations and supplemented by the Free Clinics of Iowa, an organizational umbrella of Free Clinics in the state.
Clinic volunteers include physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, interpreters, student nurses, transcriptionists, receptionists, social workers, pharmacists, pharmacy techs, dentists, optometrists, physical therapists, dieticians and others. New volunteers are welcomed.
The Free Clinic is actively recruiting for the part-time, paid clinic coordinator position after the retirement of the previous coordinator. Interested individuals can contact Bill Deutsch, chair of the board, at billbdeutsch@gmail.com, or find the job posting on the Decorah Community Free Clinic Facebook page.
To make an appointment at the clinic for medical assistance, send a text message that includes your name, address date of birth and the medical problem to 563-419-0962.
To volunteer at the clinic, contact Bill Deutsch at the address above, or call and leave message at 563-419-0962.
To donate to the clinic, make checks out to Decorah Community Free Clinic and mail to the clinic’s current mailing address: c/o First Lutheran Church, 604 West Broadway, Decorah. Online donations can be made through the clinic’s Facebook page.
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