Annapolis Outreach Center--A Safe Harbor for the Uninsured

Started in 1994 by a group of Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) physicians and
nurses, the Outreach Center is the only free health care clinic in Annapolis.  The clinic
started with a few doctors visiting the local Lighthouse Shelter one night a week with a
bag full of medication samples.  The shelter’s founders helped get the volunteer effort
started by handling 150 visits a year in its first year. The center now sees 250 uninsured individuals each month from Anne Arundel County. In 2004, AAMC contributed more
than $600,000 to help operate the Center. In addition, the clinic partners with other
like-minded organizations such as the Anne Arundel County Health Department,
Department of Social Services, Annapolis City Department of Parks and Recreation,
Annapolis Housing Authority, and the Johns Hopkins Medical Center. 

The effort is supported by multilingual staff, and a steady increase in the number of
volunteers who donate as many as 200 hours a month of their time.  Through the clinic,
the community has access to gynecologists, dermatologists, family practitioners,
internists, orthopedists, podiatrists, nurse practitioners, nurses, and others who are
available four days a week and physicians offer additional appointments at their
regular offices. The clinic offers classes to quit smoking and nutritional counseling
services. A health department nurse helps patients enroll in a program allowing them
to see doctors at a discounted fee. There are future plans to expand the clinic’s services
to include dental care.