By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/26/05)

They didn’t know whether to expect one patient or 1,000 on their first day, but quantity was not a concern for the volunteers staffing the Guadalupe Free Medical Clinic.

Although they only saw a handful of patients the first day, "Once word gets around the community, it’ll pick up," said Father Jerome Magat, parochial vicar at St. Elizabeth Parish in Colonial Beach, who spearheaded the clinic’s formation.

Fr. Magat was assigned to Colonial Beach in October 2003, and said he spent the first six months of his assignment "assessing the status of the community and parish.

"If you live here, you notice there are significant needs," said Father Magat. "There are a lot of poor people."

He knew he wanted to provide some sort of service in the house located next to the parish office, but he also didn’t want to duplicate ministries being offered by other churches. There are already successful thrift stores run by Protestant churches, but there were no free medical clinics.

Equipped with donations from free clinics in Fredericksburg and Lynchburg and equipment bought with funds raised through private donations, the Guadalupe Clinic opened its doors for the first time last weekend.

"I have to say there were many times in this last year that I though this thing would fold and collapse, and time and time again I really believe Our Lady come through for us and put people in our paths who could help us," Father Magat said. "It took perseverance to get to this point."

The first patient arrived at the clinic at about 8:30 a.m. She came because she lost her insurance coverage and said she would continue coming if she couldn’t regain insurance. About her first visit, she said, "It was pretty good. I like it."

Many Knights of Columbus were present on opening day. Several volunteered to direct traffic if necessary, and District Deputy Dick Salazar and Holy Trinity Council Grand Knight Sherwood Moore came to the clinic to see the results of the Knights’ hard work in renovating the building.

The Knights’ work earned them the State of Virginia Knights of Columbus project of the year for 2005.

"I can’t always be here because of other duties, but the people who live here are very committed to seeing it succeed," Father Magat said. "Without their assistance, we wouldn’t be here today."

"The people involved (in opening the clinic) have been incredible," said Dan Muldorn, the first doctor to see patients at the clinic. "They have done everything right and that’s why it’s going to be successful. We’re starting small and serving acute needs of patients, but I see it growing."

The next closest free clinic — the Moss Free Clinic —is 40 miles away in Fredericksburg. But, residents in Colonial Beach don’t qualify for services there because they live outside the range that the clinic covers.

"I don’t think there will ever be a shortage of demand for the services of this clinic," Father Magat said. He currently is working on securing long term sustainable funding "so it continues to operate past my time here."

The lower level of the clinic includes the reception area, a lab and two examining rooms. On the second floor is a lounge for doctors and nurses to consult and the records room where patient data will be stored electronically.

Staff volunteers include everyone from doctors and nurses to translators and data entry personnel.

The clinic will be open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis, with the exception of holiday weekends. The first 15 to 20 patients will be seen that day, and additional patients can make an appointment to be seen the following weekend. The clinic is open to uninsured residents of Colonial Beach and Westmoreland County who are living below the federal poverty line.

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde will dedicate the clinic on Saturday, Sept. 24. An open house was held Sunday, May 29, from 2 to 5 p.m.