Thirty years ago, United Way of Utah County partnered with Intermountain Healthcare and other community organizations to create the first health center in the area to help low-income families with either little insurance or no insurance access quality medical care. This center, now called Mountainlands Family Health Center, has expanded from the original location in Provo to five additional locations across the county.

These six clinics provide primary and preventative medical, dental and mental health services. Because the clinics are nonprofit, they provide care to all Utahns, regardless of their ability to pay or the type of health insurance they have. Not only do they provide primary care services, but they also provide assistance with insurance coverage, pharmacy services and health education (including prenatal, nutrition and diabetes prevention classes).

These clinics provide crucial care to thousands of our friends and neighbors each year and are a critical part of our health care system in Utah County. It’s hard to even imagine what our community would be like without these services. Since the first clinic was founded in Provo in the 1990s, we have seen so many medical professionals want to do even more to support our community. Over the past decades, hundreds of medical professionals have volunteered their time to provide care to those in need.

To help coordinate these volunteer medical professionals, an organization called Community Health Connect was founded. The mission of this organization is to connect low-income, uninsured families and individuals with volunteer specialists who can give them the care they need. Community Health Connect maintains a Volunteer Provider Network with over 250 providers. This network allows Community Health Connect to refer patients to the specialists that will best serve their needs.

Courtesy United Way

Because these medical professionals are volunteering their services, there is little or no cost to patients to access medical and dental care. Services offered by these volunteers range from audiology to physical therapy to neurosurgery. Community Health Connect also offers navigation services to help people apply for health insurance, including CHIP, Medicaid and the Healthcare Marketplace. This type of individual support is invaluable for those who may feel overwhelmed or lost in the complexities of the healthcare system.

The success of these amazing organizations also led to the creation of the Volunteer Care Clinic in Provo more than 20 years ago. This clinic was founded thanks to partnerships between the Utah County Health Department, Intermountain Healthcare, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and United Way of Utah County.

Each week, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, volunteer medical professionals provide free acute care for low-income uninsured Utah County residents. This clinic is managed by volunteers and provides compassionate care for those who are experiencing difficulties. Thanks to these wonderful volunteers, thousands of community members have received essential care when they needed it most.

We are so fortunate to have such strong partnerships and such dedicated medical professionals in Utah County. United Way of Utah County will continue working with others to tackle important issues in our community.

As we all look for ways that we can support each other in living healthy, happy lives, let’s take some time to commit ourselves to giving back in any way we can. Together, we can create a network of care, both clinical and quotidian, that will strengthen our community for years to come.

Courtesy Riana Bruce-Goodsky

To learn more about these organizations, or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit unitedwayuc.org.