Statements
Mission
Mission Statement:
Driven by faith, we provide hope and healing to our hardworking neighbors in need.
Vision Statement:
All Middle Tennesseans have the healthcare home they need to lead a fulfilling life.
Background
In spring 1999, Nashville physicians Dr. David Gaw and Dr. John Lamb along with Charlie Martin began discussions concerning the feasibility of opening a family practice medical clinic devoted to serving the primary healthcare needs of low-income Nashville residents without health insurance. Their discussions flowed from their individual commitment to serving others. They decided that an existing clinic in Memphis was the best model on which to base a facility for serving the Nashville community. Dr. Scott Morris, founder of the Church Health Clinic in Memphis, invited the founders to visit to learn how to bring a similar facility to reality in Nashville. As a result of the vision and hard work of Dr. Gaw, Dr. Lamb, Charlie Martin and through the generosity of many donors, Faith Family Medical Clinic opened its doors on October 8, 2001 and Dr. Tom Henderson was hired to be the first Medical Director. In 2007, the Board of Directors hired Laura Hobson who is now the President and CEO of Faith Family Medical Center. Since that time, the clinic changed 2 offices to exam rooms and moved all non-clinical personnel to the building next door. In 2010, FFMC began a wellness program and a community garden. In 2013, the Board hired Dr. Parker Panovec as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Henderson still continues to volunteer and is a Lifetime member of the Board of Directors. in 2017, FFMC embarked on a Capital Campaign. Ascension - St. Thomas Health committed to a 50 year lease on the clinic property and FFMC bought the two houses next door to the clinic. In 2019, construction began on a 17,000 square foot facility that will have space for two other tenants. Faith Family provides a variety of services including family medicine, counseling, and a wellness program including a community garden. The dedicated physicians and nurse practitioners emphasize the healing of the whole person. Patient fees range from $25-$55 per visit, including all lab tests. Faith Family benefits from the expertise of more than 130 local specialists who see our patients at reduced fees. Faith Family partners with Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy to ensure that patients receive the medications they need to effectively manage and treat their diseases at affordable rates. The wellness program is directed by a dietitian who is able to meet with patients one on one to assist them with their nutritional and exercise needs.
Impact
Nashville's recent Community Needs Assessment reported that 1 in 7 residents live in poverty, 30% are food insecure, and 19% have unmet medical needs. This means that an alarming number of our neighbors are choosing between the basic necessities; asking themselves, do I pay rent, buy groceries, go to the doctor, or get my prescription refilled?
Faith Family Medical Center (FFMC) was founded on the belief that this choice is unacceptable. We know a lack of resources - access to healthcare, vision, mental health; healthy food; nutrition information and exercise opportunities - leads to a cycle of health neglect. Individuals forgo annual check-ups that could detect potential health concerns. Minor issues become chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. The only treatment options are emergency rooms and expensive medications. These students, parents, or grandparents miss time from school, work, or caring for their loved ones. As a result, new bills add up compounding stress and intensifying the cycle.
Faith Family Medical Center seeks to break this cycle through an enhanced "one-stop" facility that provides affordable healthcare integrated with free wellness services. We are removing barriers such as transportation, cost, and time away from work to ensure families live healthier lives while still paying for other necessities. Faith Family is unique in 1) providing a service model that integrates affordable health care with free wellness services and 2) targeting individuals who are uninsured or lack adequate health insurance.
FFMC's one-of-a-kind onsite wellness program, Journey to Wellness (J2W), helps patients learn how to make lifestyle changes that will prevent, mitigate, and reverse health issues. Led by a Registered Dietician, J2W offers one-on-one counseling, group classes, gardening, nutrition information, and exercise opportunities. J2W equips patients with knowledge, tools, and support to sustain a healthy lifestyle.
This program works hand-in-hand with our primary medical staff to ensure patients are identified and referred for the appropriate interventions. Patient visits are provided on a sliding scale with the average patient paying $31, including screenings, labwork, and referrals. FFMC partners with a network of 130 physicians who see our patients for specialty concerns at a reduced cost. Our unique approach incorporates disease management days where patients can see multiple providers (vision, dental, podiatry, pharmacy, dietitian) necessary to manage their condition. By providing all these services in one visit, we reduce patients' time away from work and family and minimize transportation needs.
Needs
More than 200,000 greater Nashville-area residents are uninsured/underinsured and face significant barriers to accessing care. In Davidson County, 17.7% of residents live in poverty (Sycamore Institute 2018). It is estimated that 16.8% of those residents were unable to see a doctor due to cost, 20.1% had no usual source of care, and 27.8% did not have a personal healthcare provider (CHNA 2016). Without access to healthcare and medication and lacking healthy living skills, many of our neighbors have developed extensive health issues. Nashville faces high rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes (10.9%), hypertension (29.5%), obesity (31%), and mental illness (21%). Additionally, 17% smoke tobacco and 27% report low levels of physical activity (ibid). In 2020, FFMC will care for more than 2,500 low-income, working uninsured or underinsured patients through 9,000 encounters. Because of our sliding fee scale, the average patient pays only $31 to see a provider and receive lab work. However, an average visit costs FFMC $178. With Tennessee Safety Net paying only $23 a visit, FFMC must raise an average of $124 per visit to cover the remaining costs.
CEO Statement
One of the most distinctive things about Faith Family Medical Center is that we are fortunate to have many partners who assist us in providing affordable healthcare to the underserved. Saint Thomas Health provides our clinic building to us for $2 per year. Centennial Hospital provides discounted lab tests for patients. Faith Family benefits from the expertise of more than 130 local specialists and medical professionals who agree to see our patients at reduced rates when their medical needs exceed those we can meet at the clinic. Premier Radiology and Outpatient Diagnostic Centers provide affordable testing for patients. Faith Family is a part of the Safety Net Consortium of Middle Tennessee, the Tennessee Charitable Care Network, the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, and Christian Community Health Fellowship. We are extremely grateful for our many colleagues who enable us to provide comprehensive, affordable and compassionate care.
Board Chair Statement
I am honored to serve as the Chair of Board for Faith Family Medical Center in 2020. I have been a long term financial supporter of this great organization that provides high quality healthcare to Middle Tennesseans that do not have adequate access to health and wellness services. The patients of Faith Family Medical Center receive very professional care from clinicians that care about the whole person - body, mind and spirit - and receive their care with dignity and respect. As the Nashville area continues to grow, there is an increasing need for our services. We enjoy a generous donor base that supports Faith Family Medical Center with financial resources and volunteer hours. This organization makes a difference in individual lives and in our great community.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Health Care - Community Clinics |
| Secondary Category: | - |
| Tertiary Category: | - |
Areas Served
While Faith Family Medical Center is located in Nashville, patients come from all over Middle Tennessee. Faith Family Medical Center does not have any geographical requirements.
| TN - Cheatham |
| TN - Cumberland |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Dickson |
| TN - Maury |
| TN - Montgomery |
| TN - Putnam |
| TN - Robertson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Trousdale |
| TN - Williamson |
| TN - Wilson |
