Characteristics of ECHO-Facilitated Clinics
I. PURPOSE, STRUCTURE, AND IDENTITY
A. The clinic will have a vision and mission to provide healthcare services to persons who are financially struggling and who are sick or in need of an essential health service (e.g. physicals for job applicants, immunizations, etc.).
B. The clinic will operate under the auspices of a nonprofit organization incorporated in the state where it resides and that has been designated by the Internal Revenue Services as a 501c3 or that has applied for 501c3 status.
C. The clinic will be Christian faith-based and free to express that identity any way it wishes; however, no patient will be denied care based on their religious belief or lack thereof, nor will any patient be required against their will to participate in or observe any religious practice.
II. GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND PLANNING
A. The clinic will be governed by a board that is active and engaged.
B. The clinic will be managed by a competent leader with requisite skills and abilities for managing a charitable healthcare clinic.
C. The clinic will have a well-developed written business plan.
D. The clinic will have clearly-documented policies and procedures to guide administrative and clinical functions.
E. The clinic will track patient, service, and financial data for purposes of monitoring its progress and reporting to interested parties.
F. The clinic will have a written plan for growth to serve a statistically significant percentage of financially struggling individuals in its community.
III. BUDGET, FINANCE, AND FUNDING
A. The clinic will have a first-year budget based on sound planning of operations and a credible projection of income and expenses.
B. The clinic will have a written fundraising plan based on careful consideration of potential sources, including but not limited to churches, foundations, government, businesses, hospitals, and individuals. The clinic will consider giving patients an opportunity to contribute to the cost of their care – via a fee or donation – without creating a financial barrier or denying care because of inability to pay.
C. The clinic will have monies on hand sufficient to cover operating costs for at least three months.
D. The clinic will be an excellent steward of its financial resources, exercising care and control of its finances, accessing donated and in-kind goods and services wherever feasible, and preparing a monthly report of financial condition which will be made available to interested parties.
IV. SERVICES, SPACE, AND PERSONNEL
A. The clinic will deliver quality medical, dental, or mental health care, utilizing commonly-accepted practice protocols wherever possible.
B. The clinic will cultivate and promote an atmosphere of compassion, respect and dignity for its patients in everything it does from the moment they enter the door.
C. The clinic will operate at least one 3-4 hour clinic session per week on average.
D. The clinic will deliver services in a clean and well-organized space.
E. The clinic will facilitate access to prescription medications for clinic patients who need them, utilizing free or low-cost sources of medicines to the fullest extent possible.
F. The clinic will credential and privilege the licensed health professionals who deliver clinic services.
G. The clinic will consider the availability and use of volunteer health professionals in developing its clinical staff and service capacity.
V. EXTERNAL RELATIONS
A. The clinic will establish working relationships with other safety net providers and healthcare organizations (e.g. hospitals, public health) in the community that likely also serve the clinic’s patients.
B. The clinic will recognize it is not alone but is part of a growing universe of free/charitable clinics and has given due consideration to joining and/or affiliating with networks, associations, and other groupings of such clinics.
COMPLIANCE AND ASSET PROTECTION
A. The clinic will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
B. The clinic will have sufficient liability protections in place for the organization, its directors and officers, staff, and volunteers.