The Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic is a free clinic in Pontiac, Michigan, United States. It provides primary free medical health and dental services to individuals who are low income and uninsured. The Burnstein free clinic faces strong demand due to high unemployment in Michigan.
History
In 1997, Dr. Gary Burnstein, a cardiologist, started caring for patients from a local shelter, in Pontiac, Michigan. Dr. Burnstein died in September 2003. His family took up his dream of providing healthcare access to the uninsured and officially founded the Dr. Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic in October 2004.
90 West University Building, Volunteers from the Kensington Community Church renovated a building into an operating medical clinic, dental clinic and pharmacy from January 2004 through October 2004. The clinic opened in October 2004. In 2005, a fire at the clinic forced the clinic to move temporarily to the Grace Centers of Hope church.
The clinic reopened in December 2005. The volunteer medical team sees about 150 - 200 patients and fills 300-400 prescriptions per month. The clinic has four examination rooms, one procedure room, two dental examination rooms with x-ray capabilities, and a pharmacy-laboratory.
45580 Woodward Ave Building, In 2013 the Robert S Peterson Foundation purchased a new building for the clinic. After a little over a year of fundraising and design construction began on the new building in October 2014 and the clinic moved into its new space in February 2015. The new building has 7 medical exam rooms, 2 dental opratories, dental hygiene room, pharmacy, panoramic dental x-ray, educational room.
Services
All of the following services are provided free to qualifying patients:
- Basic primary care
- Patient education
- Disease prevention and screening
- Women's health, including gynecological care
- Men's health
- Laboratory testing
- Gynecological care
- Help with attaining free medications through the Patient Assistant Program
Patient requirements
- Supply the clinic with most recent financial information (tax return, W-2, or 4506-T)
- Supply the clinic with valid picture ID (drivers license, state ID, prison ID, or green card)
- Be a Resident of the State of Michigan
- Fall within the clinic's income guidelines (250% of the Federal Poverty Level)
- Be uninsured
Fund raising
The clinic receives no funding from the federal government and apx. 1% of annual budget comes from state government. The financial support of the clinic is based almost entirely on community donations, corporate and charitable grants, private donations, and public fund-raising events.
Events
- Annual Spring Fundraiser
- Esteemed Women of Michigan Luncheon.
- Annual Winter Fundraiser
References
External links
- Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic
- Burnstein Clinic YouTube Channel
- Free Health Clinics of Michigan
