Alabama Free Clinic, the first free clinic in the State of Alabama, was formed in Bay Minette on August 28, 1998. Dr. Charles Parrott, Dr. William Goetter, Bebe Goetter, RN, Connie Williams, and Charles Watterson, MPH comprised the initial Board of Directors. The clinic’s mission is to improve the overall health of Baldwin County by providing free medical care and health education programs for adults who are without health insurance.
From 1998 to 2007, scores of volunteer physicians, nurses, and clerical personnel gave their time and talents in serving patients during Thursday evening clinics each week. The original clinic site was at 610-B Railroad Street, just off Courthouse Square in Bay Minette. The only paid staff was a registered nurse who served as part-time Clinic Coordinator. The clinic was later moved to the County’s old DHR Building in south Bay Minette on Routes 59 and 31.
In 2007 the Board of Directors developed an expansion demonstration project to extend services throughout the county. To assist with this expansion, the Board decided to hire an Executive Director.
In August 2008, Thursday afternoon clinics were added in Bay Minette. In March 2009, a second Clinic site was established at the offices of Baldwin County Public Health in Robertsdale. The Robertsdale clinics were conducted every Tuesday evening but now are held three times a month. The Bay Minette clinic moved to its present location in County Building Annex VI at 212 Courthouse Square in July 2009. The Clinic staff now includes an Executive Director, an RN Clinic Coordinator, a Patient Care Coordinator, a Data Entry Coordinator, and a Data Entry Clerk.
The need for Alabama Free Clinic is not going away anytime soon. Our mission is more critical now than ever. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers and generous donors, we will continue growing and working hard to serve our neighbors in need who would otherwise go without health care.