PARTNERS FOR Healing compassionately serves the working uninsured in Coffee, Franklin, and Moore counties. This year, it is celebrating 25 years of providing free health care to eligible adults without coverage.
Executive Director Dr. Ashley Oberlander Townsend said that not only is Partners for Healing still here serving the community, but it is also offering more than ever before.
Oberlander Townsend, who joined the organization a year ago, describes Partners for Healing as a free healthcare clinic that helps anyone without insurance, for any reason.
“Our mission is to open our hearts and hands in love and understanding by providing compassionate healthcare and nurturing the working uninsured,” she said.
The clinic serves adults 18 and older who live or work in Coffee, Franklin, or Moore counties and fall at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, covering a wide range of people from all walks of life.
“You could be a profitable business owner and still not have insurance for yourself or your employees,” she said. “It is available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria.”
The clinic also extends eligibility to those transitioning between jobs for up to six months, as well as individuals applying for disability. And for anyone who does not qualify, staff work to connect them with somewhere else to go.
Partners for Healing primarily focuses on primary care, but its services have expanded significantly over the years. The clinic logged more than 300 specialist referrals in the past year alone, coordinating with regional hospitals and providers to help patients navigate financial assistance. Depending on a patient’s income, specialist costs can be covered at 80-100% through external programs.
Additional services include well-woman visits through the Tennessee Breast and Cervical Program and a mobile mammogram bus that visits a couple of times per year. The Lung Bus brings mobile, low-dose CT lung scans to the Manchester clinic, and the service is open to the public. In-house ultrasound services are also available on the second Saturday of each month, courtesy of a long-term volunteer.
For those who need to see a dentist, a partnership with a regional dental office that travels to Murfreesboro quarterly provides on-site screenings and cleanings at no charge. Also, if a patient needs vision care, the staff connects eligible patients with the Lions Club.
Partners for Healing also offers a variety of in-house mental health services. After an initial primary care assessment, patients may be referred to an in-office mental health provider.
“We have a nurse practitioner who specializes in mental health medication management, and we have a therapist who will do follow-up care and talk therapy,” Oberlander Townsend said.
Partners for Healing also serves in the community outside of the clinic. With grant funding, staff members visit food pantries and community events to offer free blood pressure and glucose monitoring to anyone who shows up, regardless of whether they are existing patients.
“It’s a way for us to give back to the community, whether they qualify or not,” Oberlander Townsend said.
Oberlander Townsend said she is hopeful about securing additional partnerships to expand services further and broaden their reach.
Transportation remains one of the biggest barriers for patients accessing referred services, and Oberlander Townsend said donations supporting transportation are among the most impactful gifts the clinic receives. The clinic also offers bilingual services. The heart of the program is to meet as many needs as possible for families in the area. GN
To learn more or find out if you qualify, contact Partners for Healing at (931) 455-5014 or info@partnersforhealing.org. The clinic is at 109 W. Blackwell St. in Tullahoma.
