Berkeley Free Clinic

2339 Durant Avenue, Berkeley, California 94704, United States

The Berkeley Free Clinic is a community-based non-profit clinic in Berkeley, California (USA). More than 100 employees run it as an employee group. Since its opening in 1969, it has provided free medical care. The Berkeley Free Clinic's mission is to provide patients with affordable health care and resources to empower them and their communities.

In 1969 during the revolts of the People's Park in Berkeley, the Berkeley Free Clinic was founded. Two owners of Moe's Books and Cody's Books were the local booksellers Moe Moskowitz and Fred Cody. The Free Clinic Berkeley operates as a not-for-profit, government-sponsored facility. The Berkeley Free Clinic aims to treat and value its patients with dignity and respect. It is run by volunteers who receive clinics and classroom training. When it opened, both medical and dental assistance have been offered by Berkeley Free Clinic.

By Oleg. - https://www.flickr.com/photos/olegshpyrko/15400283837/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=101352444

Fees for the services, equipment, medicines or supplies provided at Berkeley Free Clinic have never been charged. Revenues have only been created by donations and government programs, whether individual or organizational.

The entire medical, dental and information/referral programs receive a growing focus on education, self-knowledge, and the growing understanding of appropriate resources. Direct services are provided by volunteer healthcare workers almost exclusively. In-class and clinical settings, volunteers receive extensive and specific training. Their goal is to demystify health and other human resources for both clinic volunteers and clients whenever possible.

The services that is being offered for free are Acute primary medical care, tuberculosis testing, dental services, HIV+STI testing, Hepatitis testing and counseling, women's, trans, and gender non-conforming services, peer counseling and eyeglass and vision screening.

Berkeley Free Clinic has a plan in moving into a new building and hopes that it will update and improve its services. The requested improvements include a new lobby with toilets, 6 or more fitted examination rooms, a suitable dental suite with 3 new dental stations and an X-ray machine, six counseling rooms (five and one larger group), an optical services clinic with two examination rooms, large meeting areas and storage areas and a new lab and a new pharmacy. The clinic hopes for improving the new facilities.