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Nonprofit Spotlight
Nonprofit Spotlight
Health Partners Inc. is a charitable clinic offering primary healthcare services for adults, as well as dental care for adults and children. Healthcare services include annual wellness exams, chronic disease management, and care coordination. Dental services include preventative and restorative procedures including root canals, dentures, and crowns.
Health Partners welcomes a diverse range of patients; this includes the uninsured, underinsured (Medicaid and Medicare), and those covered by some commercial plans. The nonprofit’s mission is to become a medical and dental home for the community. Health Partners also seeks to enhance the quality of health of its patients so that they can achieve better health for themselves and their families.
“The organization has become a lifesaver to me and my family.” - Patient
Health Partners was founded in 1992 by Sisters Michaeleen and Gladys Marie of the Sisters of Holy Cross. The nonprofit was created to provide healthcare for Charles County citizens that had no insurance and could not pay. Health Partners gained its first medical clinic in 1996 when the county commissioners let the nonprofit renovate a space at the Old Waldorf School.
In 2007, the organization used funding provided by The Greater Waldorf Jaycees to build up the dental clinic. The clinic provided free dental services with the help of local volunteer dentists. In 2009, money from a fundraiser held by Grace Lutheran Church was used to buy a transportable dental unit. The transportable unit was used to offer free cleanings, sealants, and exams for children at local Title 1 schools. Since 2013, Health Partners has expanded its programs; in 2017, a clinic was opened in Nanjemoy, and in 2019, dental services started being offered in Lexington Park. Over the years, Health Partners has become a major resource in Southern Maryland for those seeking primary care and dental services. As of 2022, the nonprofit has served the community for 30 years.
“Thank God for a place like Health Partners. The staff here is wonderful. The atmosphere is great. Being without insurance it is comforting to know that there is a place like this that explains your meds and why you need to take them. Most importantly, they listen to you. The staff here goes above and beyond the call of duty to make sure you leave happy.” - Patient
In addition to its medical and dental services, Health Partners is also known for its boutique-like thrift shop, called “Good Stuff.” The thrift shop began as a volunteer-run clothing closet in 2010, and it became the “Good Stuff Thrift Shop” in 2018. The thrift shop sells gently used clothes, jewelry, collectibles, and household items. All funds are used to support the clinic, patient care, and monies for the nonprofit’s Patient Assistance Fund. All items are donations received from the community, and the store is entirely run by volunteers. The shop currently operates on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is also open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Health Partners is looking for volunteers for the thrift shop, so it can operate for more days and hours. The organization also has a wish list for clinic volunteers, which includes: webmaster and social media, fundraising and marketing, clerical and office assistant, dentist, dental assistant, medical assistant, nurse, nurse practitioner, and thrift shop workers. Information about ways to donate and volunteer opportunities is available on the nonprofit’s website.
“I recently had a dentist appointment with you, after at least 10 years since last seeing a dentist (due to having no insurance). I was very pleased at the care I received, from the receptionists to the dentist and dental technicians. Everyone was welcoming, kind, and easy to work with. I will highly recommend your facility to all who ask. Thank you again for your excellent patient care!” - Letter from Patient
Partnerships, grants, and donations are critical to the clinic's sustainability. Many of the nonprofit’s patients receive financial assistance to access care through grants, as well as the use of monies received from community donations and funds generated from thrift shop sales. As a result, Health Partners has numerous success stories related to treating patients.
One story involves a patient that came in with severe pain and needed a root canal. She could not afford the root canal yet did not want to lose her tooth. The patient had a new baby, the baby’s father left her, she had no family, and she just lost her job due to a lack of daycare. Fortunately, Health Partners was able to pay for her root canal using grant funds, and the patient kept her tooth.
Another story involves a 95-year-old who had lost most of her teeth, due to poor hygiene and a lack of patient education. As a result, she was losing weight, and eating became a painful task for her. Health Partners educated her about the importance of getting cleanings done and taking care of her teeth at home. This allowed the organization to save a few of her natural teeth. Additionally, Health Partners provided her with a lower partial denture and complete upper denture, thanks to a grant from United Way.
Visit the website of Health Partners Inc. to learn more about the nonprofit.
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