Profiles

Health Brigade (formerly Fan Free Clinic)

Thousands of at-risk Richmond residents have benefited from the services offered by the Health Brigade (formerly Fan Free Clinic). VHCF grants have enabled the Health Brigade to hire a nurse practitioner to provide primary care services to those with chronic illnesses and to make it possible for more eligible patients to receive free medications.

The Health Brigade is a multi-service organization in the city of Richmond that operates a free medical clinic, a food pantry and a mental health clinic, and also provides outreach, referral and health education services for persons with HIV/AIDS.

A grant from VHCF enabled the Health Brigade to hire a nurse practitioner for their medical clinic to provide primary care services to patients with chronic illnesses.  The addition of a nurse practitioner allowed the Health Brigade to care for hundreds more patients and provide more than 2,500 additional patient visits in the first year alone.

In addition, a RxRelief Virginia grant is enabling the Health Brigade to provide eligible area residents with free medications.  RxRelief Virginia funds underwrite the salaries and fringe benefits of Medication Assistance Caseworkers who access free medicines from pharmaceutical companies’ Patient Assistance Programs using The Pharmacy Connection software.

RxRelief Virginia is a special initiative designed to establish or expand Medication Assistance Programs throughout Virginia.  It is administered by VHCF and funded by the state.