HIGH POINT – Some people have never heard of it. Others depend on it to save their lives.

Either way, the fact that the Community Clinic of High Point Inc. is receiving $55,000 – more than any other free clinic in North Carolina – through a collaboration between the North Carolina Association of Free Clinics and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation speaks volumes about its role in the community.

Jason Baisden, executive director of the NCAFC, announced that the Community Clinic would receive the largest installment of money at its board meeting Wednesday. The BCBS Foundation appropriates funds to free clinics each year, but this year the funding was based on a new set of guidelines that measures each clinic’s effectiveness, Baisden said.

“The (BCBS) Foundation came to us and said they wanted to see not only how many patients were being treated, but how many patients were actually getting better,” he said. “We created a survey and sent it to the clinics.”

Data derived from the survey, such as the improvement of diabetic patients during treatment, was used to create a 21-point scale system that determines how much each clinic receives in funding from the organizations. The Community Clinic received 20 points on its evaluation, also the highest score in the state.

The Community Clinic is a free clinic that provides health care at little to no cost to low-income, uninsured and under-insured persons. It is operated by a team of volunteers that includes doctors and pharmacists. North Carolina has 79 free clinics, which is more than any other state.

Jerri White, director of the clinic, said the funds were a blessing.

“This money awarded to us not only recognizes the quality of care the patients at Community Clinic receive, but it comes at a time when we have experienced significant reduction in funding from some longtime contributors,” she said.

The clinic has also seen a 22 percent increase in patients in the last year.

phaynes@hpe.com | 888-3617