Welcome to the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic
All patients are treated with compassion and a non-judgmental attitude.
As a clinic, we are caring and act in ways that respect the dignity, uniqueness, and important worth of every person.
Patient Handbook
Para Español
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE HANDBOOK?
This handbook will help you and your family:
- Understand the services provided by the Clinic
- Participate more actively in the care you receive
- Learn about Clinic procedures important to your care
- Assume individual responsibility as a Clinic patient
WHAT ABOUT MEDICATIONS?
- All medications are provided at no cost IF YOU MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS to receive Clinic services
- The Clinic can provide medications free of charge (if you meet eligibility requirements) because they are provided by some drug companies. This service is called the Patient Assistance Program or PAP; it helps the Clinic keep costs down. To obtain medications from the drug companies using the PAP, the Clinic must have proof of your income (i.e., tax return or proof of non-filing). Without proof of your income, the drug company will not provide the medications
- Some medications are not available at the Clinic (e.g., narcotics, birth control)
WHAT SERVICES DOES THE CLINIC PROVIDE?
3Tuesday Medical Clinic
- All Clinic patients are welcome, including walk-in and ongoing/continuing patients
- Every Tuesday: 4:30 p. – 9:00 p.m.
- Walk-In Registration: 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Patients with diabetes: By appointment only
Thursday Medical Clinic
- All Clinic patients are welcome, including walk-in and ongoing/continuing patients
- 1st & 3rd Thursday: 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
- Walk-In Registration: 9:00-10:00 a.m.
- Patients with diabetes by appointment only
Mental Health Clinic
- By appointment only
Vision Clinic
- By appointment only
Dental Care
- The Dental Clinic is by appointment only, Tuesdays 5:00-8:00 p.m.
- 1st & 3rd Thursdays by appointment only, 9:00am-12:00pm
In order to make an appointment for our Dental Clinic, you must first register as a patient at one of our Walk-In Clinics. If you qualify for services, you will then be added to the dental appointment waiting list.
Medication Refill
- Medications will be re-filled ONLY (a) during the Tuesday Medical Clinic and, (b) at Thursday clinics
- You MUST call the Clinic the day before pick-up to request your medication refill at 715-839-8477, this will help staff prepare your refill
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR MY VISIT?
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT for the clinic service you need.
Appointments are required for ALL services except the Walk-In Clinics that are held on (a) Tuesday evening 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and, (b) the 1st & 3rd Thursday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. To make your appointment, call 715-839-8477.
REMEMBER: If you cannot keep your appointment, you must call at least 4 hours before your appointment time to cancel or reschedule it. You will be dismissed from the Clinic if you excessive “no shows” (that is, you missed your appointment and you did not call beforehand).
BRING YOUR PROOF of income (tax return or proof of non-filing).
BRING A LIST of your medications.
CHIPPEWA VALLEY FREE CLINIC PATIENT HANDBOOK SIGNATURE
Please read the Full Patient Handbook PDF carefully. If you do not understand something in the handbook, please ask
a Clinic staff or volunteer to talk about it. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the Clinic policies and
procedures. Thank you for your cooperation.
To qualify for services at the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic, proof of your income is necessary. You cannot receive services at the Clinic without this proof. On the following list, the Patient Advocate or other Clinic staff member will check the items you must provide. If the Clinic does not receive this proof by the date indicated, your services will be discontinued.
WHAT IS THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY FREE CLINIC?
- Provides health services for people of the Chippewa Valley who have no other health care coverage
- Serves all patients without regard to personal, social, political, or family beliefs or characteristics. It does not discriminate in any way
- Protects you and your family’s privacy while providing services; the Clinic will not share any information that identifies you as an individual
- Depends on volunteers and generous support from the community; most of the clinic services are not funded by the federal or state government
AM I ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE SERVICES?
- Your household income must be at or below 250% of federal poverty guidelines; these guidelines are available at the Clinic
- You cannot be covered by any other health insurance
- You cannot have access to any other health care coverage; you are not eligible to receive Clinic services if you qualify for VA Benefits, Medicare A or B, Medicaid, or Disability
- To confirm your eligibility, you must provide proof of income; this will be a tax return or proof of non-filing
WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING MY VISIT?
- After meeting with the Patient Advocate, you will meet with a registered nurse; the nurse will do an initial check (e.g., reason for your visit, blood pressure, etc.)
- You will then meet with a doctor or a nurse practitioner who will do a more complete check and make decisions with you about your health problem
- You may be referred to other medical specialties (e.g., Eau Claire City-County Health Department for family planning and STD testing/treatment) or to resources in the community (e.g., food pantries, housing options, job opportunities); a case manager or nurse will discuss these referrals with you
- Spanish language interpreters are available
- Because the Clinic makes every effort to provide thorough and high quality care to all patients, your visit at the Clinic will take about two hours for most services
- You will be treated with respect; you are expected to respect all Clinic staff and volunteers
- Verbal abuse or combative behavior will not be tolerated and will result in immediate dismissal from the Clinic
Our Clinic provides services at no charge to eligible patients.
The Clinic can stop services to patients who:
-
- Falsely describe their need or their information
- Do not follow Clinic rules as defined in the Patient Handbook
- Are disrespectful, abusive, or combative
- Do not use services as they were intended
- Have excessive no-shows for scheduled appointments
Our Clinic does NOT give any controlled substances.
No narcotics are kept on the Clinic property.
Our Clinic does NOT provide (a) physicals for Workman’s Compensation, (b) Commercial Driver’s License evaluations, (c) STD and HIV/AIDS testing, (d) specialty care (e.g., OB/GYN, cancer), (e) preventive procedures (e.g., mammogram, colonoscopy) or (f) reproductive or family planning services.
The Clinic does its best to find available resources and/or refer those patients who need these services.