The Free Medical Clinic

The Free Medical Clinic is a medical clinic in Columbia, SC, located at 1875 Harden St. It provides quality health care at no cost to residents of the community who cannot pay for such services and who have no health insurance. The clinic serves patients through a walk-in model, with doors opening at 7:30 am and patient screening beginning at 8 am. It does not take appointments for primary care, and patient slots are limited and vary daily. The clinic offers primary care and limited on-site specialty care available by appointment, including cardiology, endocrinology, general surgery, gynecology, infectious disease, nephrology, orthopedics, and pulmonology. Additional services include assistance with Welvista enrollment for medication access, patient education, and referrals for laboratory, x-ray, and diagnostic testing. The clinic does not provide pregnancy testing, abortions, birth control services, routine eye exams, immunizations, obstetrical care, physicals, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, dental services, or pediatrics.

The clinic was incorporated on April 12, 1984, following planning by Reverend Bill Bouknight and the Bethlehem Center. It originally opened at 1609 Brabham Avenue on May 24, 1984, across the street from Providence Hospital. In October 1993, the clinic moved to its present location at 1875 Harden Street, a 5,875-square-foot building formerly home to the Harvest Hope Food Bank. The facility includes six examination rooms, a pharmacy, a small laboratory, a classroom for patient education and meetings, a waiting room, and offices. The team includes nurse practitioners Carter Hassinger, Laura Herbert, Dani Quinn, and Maggie Selph, provider Dr. Dan Davidson, and executive director Caryn Pumphrey. The board of directors includes medical directors Lynn Tucker and M. Todd Crump, and representatives from local health systems and community organizations.

The clinic sits on Harden Street, about a quarter mile from the Harden Street Fire Station. It is located near Benedict College, the Columbia Records Management office, and the SC Department of Archives and History Records Center, all within a short distance.

The clinic holds a rating of 4.40 based on 46 reviews, reflecting a solid reputation among the customers it has served and a steady record of repeat and referred patients. As a free medical clinic in Columbia, it stands as a vital resource for uninsured residents seeking primary and specialty care without cost.

Services:

• Community health support
• Community support
• Free healthcare services for uninsured individuals
• Free medical care for uninsured residents
• Routine medical check-ups
• Specialized treatments
• Volunteer opportunities