PATCH BANNER
ABOUT SITE INDEX VOLUNTEER MEDIA DONATE PATCH ADAMS
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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.
    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 clinic 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.
clownnose    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.
patch clinic flyer

� Philadelphia Inquirer 7/24/13
� Daily News
� City Paper

INDEX

CLINIC FUNCTIONS
FLOOR PLANS
BENEFITS OF OWNERSHIP
MEMBERSHIP
TRAINING
NEED STATEMENT
CONSTRUCTION
BUILDING MATERIALS
PERMITS
LEGAL
LABOR
PAY
BENEFITS TO CITY
BROADER AIMS
FINANCING
CREDIBILITY
CONTRACT WITH PATCH
CORE VALUES
CORE FUNCTIONS
CORE FACILITY
BYLAWS
HOW YOU CAN HELP
COMMITTEES
CREDIBILITY
NETWORKING
CONTACT
LINKS


FUNCTIONS

MAIN FLOOR:

Healing
    diagnostic
    palliative
    referral
    minor surgery
    urgicare
    overnight observation
    hospice
    dental
    preventive counseling
    prenatal
    birthing pool
    watsu pool
    whirlpool
    neonatal
 
    massage �rub room�
    acupuncture
    shiatsu
    physical therapy
    chiropractic
    herbal
    skin care
    mental health: group therapy
    smoking quit
    remote area medical
    health fairs
    job counseling: green
    education and training
    medical library with computer stations
    meeting rooms
    classrooms
    board games in waiting area

    


































      music studios
art studios
 concerts in atrium: acoustic
cafeteria: onsite and regional food processing
    retail shop: local goods only
    volunteer lounge

Decoration and Whimsey         
        plants
        banners
        mobiles
        waterfall in atrium: solar pump
        large puppets
        kinetic sculpture
        art by local artists
        clowns and acrobats
       RUGS shaped like giant tongues, ears, feet.
       THEATRE of Healing: COSTUMES for people dressed like giant hypodermic needle, tooth, eyeball, ear, intestine, nose, foot, mouth, heart, lungs, brain, cochlea, etc.
       KALEIDOSCOPE mounted
       SNAKE SLIDE
        FUNHOUSE MIRROR
OCTOBIKE
       PLAYPUMP to raise filtered water
       MEDALS FOR VOLUNTEERS
       MUSICIANS (acoustic) & CHOIRS

BASEMENT:

    geothermal
    toilet containers
    vermiculture
    storage
    water tanks
    generators
    spiral staircase
    dumbwaiter
    shout room

Storage

    tools
    food
    medical supplies
    dental supplies
    linens
    musical instruments
    art materials
    costumes: clown
    

ROOFTOP

    water catchment on and around dome
    mosaic walking paths
    picnicking
    benches
    bike path
    orchard
    garden
    apiary

SURROUNDS

    basketball court
    tennis court
    soccer field
    bike shelter
    spyramid
    orchard and farm (vegetables/herbs)
    windmills and whirligigs
    pageant fields and tents
        Recirculous & Remote Area Medical
    amphitheatre
  





RELATED ORGANIZATIONS HOUSED WITHIN

    PhilaHealthia
    MediCash
    Time Dollars
    GLAD
    Green Jobs Philly
    NESTS
    FORCS
    PRAISE & PhilaFEL

OFFICE

    membership
    donations
    time banking

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BENEFITS OF MEMBER OWNERSHIP

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.


NEED STATEMENT

Poor health care for poor Philadelphians gets poorer. Federal, state and local subsidy for Philadelphia's 200,000 un-insured declines as need increases. Our State's Medicaid waiting list is 350,000. Our City's ten free clinics are understaffed and underfunded, with three-month waiting lists. Medical centers are closing. Emergency room diversions are more frequent. Ambulance response time drags.

Families who choose between heating and eating become ill and contagious. Food pantries run short. 60,000 children here are chronically hungry. Gas shut-off rates are increasing.

An estimated 450 Philadelphians die yearly from lack of health insurance. These Philadelphians, and millions of Americans, cannot wait for the success of a century-old campaign for universal coverage. To survive, they need to take control. They need to build and manage their health system. They need to own rather than depend.

The Patch Adams Free Clinic is reviving the American traditions of mutual aid.

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MEMBERSHIP

    They can work in the clinic (see list).
    They can work in the community (see list).
    They must complete full payment/work before renewing membership.
    Members who work in the clinic more than the minimum hours needed, or pay more than the base member fee, may get labor credits (Time Dollars), barter credits, MediCash, or gift certificates as available.
    Non-members may work on behalf of members.
    Members paid-in-full are entitled to ALL SERVICES and VOTE, to serve on the BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
    Casual visitors are invited to donate. Their donations may apply toward membership.

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JOB TRAINING

Home Care
    massage (shiatsu)
    bed care
    medication
    nutrition
    cooking
    neonatal/infant
    child care
    hairdressing
    parenting
    preventive
    yoga

Staff
    typing
    computer
    bookkeeping
    literacy
    filing
Job Counseling
   green skills
    connections
    resume
    networking
    interviewing
    dreams come true

Gardening
    preparing ground
    soil making
    mulching, watering
    preserving
    edible landscaping
Orchardry
    planting
    pruning
    preserving

Clowning
    face painting
    juggling
    balloons
    puppetry

Arts
    interior design
  neighborhood design
    painting
    face painting
    drawing
    sculpture
    ceramics
    crafts
    
Networkers
    medical discounts
    MediCash
    volunteers
    grantmaking
    NESTS
    Tour Guide
    Public Relations
    Media Outreach
    public speaking

Other
    welcome
    child care


 Music
    instruments
    singing





 





Volunteers should teach visitors
how to do  therapy for self,
family and neighbors.

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CORE FACILITY

� Earth-sheltered passive solar (incl. hot water). Maximum natural light via atria, suntubes, skylights. Solar electric, pedal power. Nontoxic operation and maintenance, waterless toilets, transit-oriented location.
� Orchards and farming on and around roof. 
� No bottled water; no sodas containing high fructose corn syrup.
� Waterless toilets.
� Priority office space for accessory functions such as green job development, microfinance, community credits, dental, optical.
� Restaurant soup kitchen (pay what you like) relying extensively on local foods.

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CONSTRUCTION
Core fireproof structure is transit-oriented single-story underground oblong octagon, with basement.  

LABOR
Contractor is Philadelphia minority-owned.
Half of paid workers from immediate and contiguous census tracts.
All paid workers from Philadelphia.
Maximum reliance on community build.
Liability insurance.

PAY
Many good things cannot happen, for lack of dollars.  So we organize labor to meet needs with least dependence on dollars.
    � MediCash
    � MediBarter
     � Time Dollars
    � Equal Dollars
    � HOURS
    � barter
    � sweat equity
         --land
         --college tuition credits
  �  gift certificates
  �  transit passes
� maximum wage: twice sustainable


PERMITS
Councilmember will be needed to facilitate land transfer, permits, grants, variances.  We will present this plan to Council members whose districts include lowest-income neighborhoods.  We�ll seek signed agreement with the council member offering best assurances.


FINANCING

charity to ownership     Expenses are kept low by by relying least on dollars.  To the maximum possible we rely on the gift economy, barter, and alternate credit systems (Time Dollars, LETS, HOURS, MediCash, etc.)
    1.  Staff are primarily volunteers: professionals, students, religious congregants, neighbors, members.  Membership fees may be paid half with labor to maintain the facility and its grounds.  Both volunteers and staff  may be rewarded with Philadelphia MediCash, gift certificates, health care, sweat equity credits, college course credit and scholarships.    Barter agreements meet many personal needs.  Administrative pay is maximum twice the livable wage.
    2.  Constructed extensively of recycled materials bartered and donated.
    3.  Equipped with donated supplies.
    4.  Fueled primarily  by energy efficiency

IN-KIND DONATIONS
materials, equipment, labor

GRANTS federal, state , local (foundation, angels).  Donors may receive certificates, plaque, etc.

MediCash BACKING
    medical centers
    healers
    businesses
    individuals
    businesses
    government


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BENEFITS TO CITY AND ITS ECONOMY


� Diversions from Emergency Rooms
� Decreased tax burden  for city clinics
� Increased sales taxes through increased household discretionary spending not lost to medical costs
� Stabilized property values
� Stimulation of neighborhood investment and business development
� Reduced high school dropout rate through increased interest in learning
� Increased sales taxes from medical tourism and greater media attention to Philadelphia
� Greater competitive advantage for medical conventions through side trip
� Trains workers for green jobs
� Increased worker productivity through reduced sick time
� Reduced public health costs through  reduced contageon risks
� Reduced air conditioning costs through  urban heat island abatement
� Reduced city carbon footprint
� Reduced rainwater runoff to storm sewers, reduced sewage to rivers
� Expanded  reliance on transit
OFFSITE NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS SERVICES
REQUIRED
Repair
    appliances
    fabrics
    tools
Laundry
Plumbing
Carpentry
Electric
BROADER AIMS

� We intend this clinic to become a medical center with overnight beds and surgeries.
� We intend to establish a nonprofit medical college that generates hundreds of competent caring doctors, dedicated foremost to serving humanity.
� We intend to democratize health care by training ourselves to heal one another.
� We intend to democratize health finance by self-insuring and by creating our own credit systems. Medicare for All can be kept affordable, democratic and honest when based on a national network of local and regional member-owned co-op plans that self-insure for simple emergencies, and that pool surplus to start free clinics for preventive care.
� We intend to stimulate the local economy through reducing the costs of healing. This clinic will restrain gentrification by prompting equitable development and land trusts.
� We intend to facilitate rebuilding of Philadelphia toward balance with nature. The public foundations of personal health are clean food, clean water and clean air.
� Our free clinic will be likewise a freedom clinic.

NETWORKING

VOLUNTEERS

    heal visitors:
        doctors
        nurses
        aides
        dentists
        massage
        chiropractic
        acupuncture
        reiki, cranio sacral
    greet visitors
    clowns
    musicians
    artists
    instructors
    mentors
    recreation
    office:
        budget and accounting
        board of directors minutes
        library
        files
        MediCash
        PhilaHealthia
        Time Dollars
    clean
    repair
    decorate
    gardeners and orchardists
    architect
    outreach: public relations, media
    grantwriting

NETWORKERS (stimulate involvement):
        donations: in-kind
        volunteers:
            students, members,
            community service,
            neighbors, NESTS
         MediCash, PhilaFEL, PRAISE


DONATIONS
    Construction materials
    Medical and Dental equipment
    Solar equipment
    land
    dollars
    discounts
    gift certificates
    furnishings
    tapestry, quilts
    decorations
    statuary and art
    lab exams     

COORDINATORS (manage involvement)    
        same categories as networking

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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.

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.

LEGAL

When land is purchased, we'll convert it to a LAND TRUST and/or CONSERVANCY
    501(c)3
        articles
        bylaws        
    liability insurance
        board and volunteers
        facility: permits

BYLAWS

BYLAWS

CORE FACILITY

� Earth-sheltered passive solar (incl. hot water). Maximum natural light via atria, suntubes, skylights. Solar electric, pedal power. Nontoxic operation and maintenance, waterless toilets, transit-oriented location.
� Orchards and farming on and around roof. � No bottled water; no sodas containing high fructose corn syrup.
� Waterless toilets.
� Priority office space for accessory functions such as green job development, microfinance, community credits, dental, optical.
� Restaurant soup kitchen (pay what you like) relying extensively on local foods.

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HOW YOU CAN HELP

COMMITTEES

VOLUNTEERS
o medical
o holistic
o farm
o board
o office & members
o interns

MEMBERS
o communication: newsletters, events
o elections
o grants

REWARDS
o barter
o MediCash, Time Dollars
o discounts, gift certificates
o sweat equity: 
    land, college credit

PUBLICITY
o social networking
o slide show
o documentary
o speaking
o media
ENVIRONMENT
o clean water
o clean food
o clean air
o building
o transit

FINANCE
o grants: foundation, private, government
o donations: web etc.
o barter
LEGAL
o incorporation: articles/bylaws
o land trust and land purchase
o permits

EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
o medical, dental, optical, restaurant, office

CONSTRUCTION

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    DONATE: TAX-DEDUCTIBLE: Community Health Collaborative, 431 West Walnut Lane, Philadelphia PA 19144

CONTACT

(215) 805-8330 � [email protected]

INTERIM BOARD MEMBERS
� Rashida Ali-Campbell
� Paul Glover
� Verna Brown-Tyner

ADVISORY BOARD
� Dr. David Bresler, DDS, owner of CavityBusters
� Mary Seton Conboy, founder and director of GreensGrow Farm
� Liz Robinson, Executive Director of Energy Coordinating Agency
� Dr. Walter Tsou, past President of the American Public Health Association

� Harry Neumann, retired industrialist

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