Patch Adams Clinic at Philadelphia

PAUL GLOVER ESSAYS: community control of food, fuel, housing, health care, planning, education, finance.

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    Located in a low-income Philadelphia neighborhood, this clinic will provide community-based health care that is genuinely non-profit, preventive, humane and fun. It is a refuge for doctors and nurses who want time to heal patients. It is a refuge for patients who want to be treated with dignity.
    For a small annual fee, members will own this clinic, gaining diagnosis and referral, dentistry, chronic and urgent care, counseling, pediatrics, birthing, hospicare, massage, family planning, chiropractic, acupuncture, and other therapies.
    More than a health facility, the clinic is an economic development model which solves several urban problems. Existing medical facilities are overcrowded and underfunded. Suffering is untended, both mental and physical. Infectious disease rates are high. 200,000 are un-insured here. Unemployment and resultant crime are high.
    The Patch Adams Free Clinic therefore offers healing, learning, play, food and work. Designed and decorated whimsically in the spirit of Dr. Patch Adams, our clinic reminds that true healing touches the soul. Permission to establish this clinic has been given by Patch Adams and the Gesundheit! Institute, according to standards below

The facility will contain meeting rooms, quiet rooms, cafeteria (local foods), musical instruments, art materials, clown costumes and health library.

    These spaces face a central circular atrium featuring plants, mosaic paths, and acoustic concerts. The waiting areas offer ergonomic chairs, cushions, cots, playpen, board games and health literature.
    Because clean air and clean water are foundations of personal health, this building will exemplify green technologies. Building materials are regional, recycled, hypoallergenic. The entire single-story building will be passive solar and earth sheltered to reduce heating and cooling costs.
The green roof mound features walking paths with wheelchair access to the peak, an edible labyrinth, berry bushes, amphitheatre, picnicking and playground.
    Because meaningful jobs are fundamental to self-esteem and public safety, green jobs training will be available.
--Paul Glover

FULL WEBSITE at
patchadamsclinic.org

Ownership gives power. Members decide what services are available. We control prices.
We set examples for government to follow. We prove there are practical alternatives to corporate domination of health.

Ownership makes our lives more secure. When government gives it to us, government can take it away.

Ownership gives dignity. Our fellow citizens are more willing to respect, volunteer and fund those who help themselves.

CORE FUNCTIONS

* Preventive, diagnostic, palliative and referral health services via both conventional and holistic therapies.
* Minor medical community-rated health plan regulated according to healthdemocracy.org/legislation.html
* Family planning upon request.
* Learning center for apprenticeships, internships, NESTS.
* Neighborhood-serving green job and green business development.

FULL WEBSITE at
patchadamsclinic.org

CONTRACT WITH PATCH ADAMS

This free clinic in Patch Adams name will meet general and explicit standards for spirit and practice approved by Patch Adams and the board of the Gesundheit! Institute.

MEMBER-OWNED:    Members may vote for the clinics board of directors and serve on its committees. bylaws
The clinic may affiliate with co-operative health plans meeting health co-op standards and may enroll Pennsylvanians as members into this plan.
   For example, pioneer members (paying $100/year) may be eligible for $500 consolation grant for broken bones. They could use it to pay healers or get massage, PT, etc. As the general fund increases, this fund may pay more for broken bones, then expand into more categories.
   Members receive discounts with Philadelphia area healers and medical centers, discounts for Patch Adams tours, discounts with local bike shops, dentists, health food stores, etc.
WHIMSICAL: Pleasant surprises, clowns, furniture foolery.
COLORFUL: Cheerful tie dye
RESPECTFUL: We tend visitors, not clients. We treat them as equals. Healing requires Love and Time. Hugs are offered as suited.
EMPOWERING: Preventive and Palliative care are provided and taught: home remedies, birth control, massage, acupuncture, acupressure, cranial sacral, nutrition, first aid.
CREATIVE: Art, music, dance, singing and clowning are understood as integral to healing.
MODALITIES: All licensed or certified healing modalities would be welcome.
RELATED SERVICES: The clinic will conjoin with related neighborhood functions such as green job center, library, child care, cannery for orchard and farm produce, community credits, community meetings. VOLUNTEER HEALING STAFF: Healers would volunteer as in Ithaca. Eventually wed hire a nurse clinician. Principal volunteer staff would be invited to train at the Gesundheit! Institute in West Virginia
MAXIMUM WAGE: Any paid administrative staff would receive wages not more than twice Philadelphia's regional "sustainable" wage.
CO-SPONSORS: We seek donations of building, renovation, equipment. We seek donations of building, renovation, equipment. The free clinic will not endorse any pharmaceutical company and will reduce reliance on prescription drugs to minima. Corporate sponsorship shall not reduce authority of members, neighborhood small businesses, regional medical centers, and neighbors directly.

CORE VALUES

Member-owned (elected board with public meetings) with right to referendum and committee participation..
* Elected board at least 50% from neighborhood; 25% volunteers, 25% other Philadelphians.
* Maximum wage and maximum employed staff: twice livable wage
* Tax-exempt, land trust and/or conservancy
* Financed maximally by gift, barter, sweat equity and alternate credits.
* Stimulate equitable development
* Healing soul as well as body, with laughter, fun, revolutionary spirit. Humane service (Love and Time), playful as appropriate.
* Always member-driven rather than staff driven. Maximum wage for any employee is twice livable wage.
* Maximum reliance on member labor and volunteer labor.
* Community credits are welcome (MediCash, Equal Dollars, neighborhood currencies, HOURS, Time Dollars, barter, sweat equity).
* Low-overhead (donated and second hand equipment, recycled building materials).
* Cooperative health financing lowers member fees. Sweat equity accepted for part payment.
* Endorsement of a national health plan (MediCare for All) which is democratic, transparent, affordable.
* Endorsement of local and regional co-op health financing plans which meet standards at http://healthdemocracy.org/legislation.html
* Public meetings announced in advance. Minutes posted on Clinic website.

FULL WEBSITE at
patchadamsclinic.org

paulglover.org

FULL WEBSITE at patchadamsclinic.org

FULL WEBSITE at
patchadamsclinic.org