Free Medical Clinics and National Wellness Month

Free medical clinics like the Parker Family Health Center perform an important role in the healthcare environment by providing care to those people who might otherwise not be able to access medical care.

The Parker Family Health Center is now celebrating its 25th year providing free medical care for the underserved and uninsured of Monmouth County. Originally opened in a small, donated trailer outfitted for medical purposes, the clinic has transformed over time into a large health facility outfitted with exam rooms, a phlebotomy space, private offices for counseling and therapy, and two large conference rooms for meetings and educational purposes for both patients and the community.

The clinic offers primary care as well as fourteen specialties. Additional services include phlebotomy, eye care, transportation, a food distribution program (Fulfill), physical therapy and mental health therapy. All services are free. Approximately thirty percent of Parker’s patients suffer from diabetes, prediabetes and/or obesity. To address the long-standing correlation between oral health and diabetes, Parker is collaborating with Brookdale Community College to establish a free dental clinic for Monmouth County residents without dental insurance and within the parameters already in place at Parker. This free clinic is expected to open in Spring 2026.

Early detection and treatment of illnesses are vital to prevent them from becoming more serious and requiring more expensive interventions, like hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Free clinics like Parker provide preventive and primary care, to help manage chronic conditions and reduce the burden on emergency departments.

In addition, we recognize that health extends beyond medical treatment and we also address social determinants of health, such as housing and food insecurity, which are crucial for a person’s well-being. By promoting health equity, we can focus on the most disadvantaged segments of the population, including those with limited financial means, lack of insurance, language barriers, or distrust in traditional healthcare institutions. By doing this, we can help ensure that essential care is available to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. The Parker Family Health Center is entrenched in the communities we serve, with outreach programs, health fairs, and educational initiatives to raise health awareness and promote preventive care.

National Wellness Month in August focuses on healthy eating, self-care, stress management, and creating healthy routines. If you have been procrastinating about improving your health, start now during National Wellness Month. How can we achieve wellness? Plan your week by staying hydrated, shopping for healthy foods, cooking healthy meals, and having a positive mental attitude. Look for produce, dairy, and meats or protein. Stay out of the aisles which contain sweets, cookies, chips, etc. Try to balance your meals with vegetables, protein and whole grain carbohydrates.

 Not everyone can afford food that is healthy. That is why there is a need for Food Banks (e.g., Fulfill). Most people donate canned goods and carbs, but there is also a need for donations of produce and protein. Try donating low sodium canned vegetables, low sugar canned fruits, canned tuna, canned chicken and low sodium canned soups. Don’t forget a can opener. These items will benefit those who need to put healthy foods on the table not just at holiday times but all year long. Many children are home for the Summer and are not getting meals at school. This is when some families struggle to put healthy meals on the table.

Your self-care should include exercising every day, walking at lunch time, stress management and keeping a positive mindset. Try listening to calming music while you work or lull yourself to sleep. Some of my August memories include playing outside until the lightning bugs came out, drinking water from a garden hose, smelling freshly cut grass, walking on the beach, eating hot dogs, hamburgers and ice cream.

Make great memories and help others. I hope everyone continues to have a happy and healthy summer.

The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well. – Hippocrates                                                                                                            

James McGuinness, M.D., is a family physician in Middletown, and is the Medical Director Emeritus at the Parker Family Health Center in Red Bank