Shoals Commnity Clinic

On Thursday morning, March 16, 2017, Shoals Community Clinic chose to re-dedicate their institution with a Ribbon Cutting Celebration with Florence Mayor Steve Holt, members of the City Council, and Shoals Chamber of Commerce. An informal reception followed the ribbon cutting and tours of the clinic. Special thanks to all who attended this event.

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Two decades ago on a chance conversation between the Dean of UNA Anderson College of Nursing and the Director of the Florence Housing Authority, the idea for a community clinic to serve the primary healthcare needs for the under-advantaged brought about what is now the Shoals Community Clinic. Since opening its doors to the underserved and uninsured, the clinic has provided over 30,000 health and dental services to residents of Northwest Alabama.

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The clinic was founded by a partnership between UNA Anderson College of Nursing and the Florence Housing Authority based on a needs assessment conducted in the mid-1990’s that showed many residents in the West Florence area without a regular primary care physician and who received much of their health care services by visiting hospital emergency rooms. The clinic became a facility that could offer managed, primary care to low income patients, as well as offer clinical experiences for university nursing students. Thanks to the help from Bud Cramer and the Appalachian Regional Commission, the dental program was added to clinic services in the year 2000. Area dentists from the Tri-County Dental Society, who have volunteered at these clinics, have provided tooth extractions to over 5,000 people in need since the beginning of the program. The clinic has expanded its outreach over the 20 years, and now patients come from as far as 100 miles for health care services at the clinic.

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Community partnerships have been a hallmark of the clinic’s framework since the beginning. The strong partnerships with UNA, Florence Housing Authority and ECM Hospital, has sustained the clinic in a unique way. The clinic is also a United Way partner organization, and recently became a member of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce. The organizational stability derived from these partnerships, as well as support from the community, will help the clinic grow and be here for those who need these services for years to come.