Baby Health Service was founded in 1914 to provide baby formula at no cost to needy families. Today our mission has expanded greatly to meet the changing needs of children in our community. Since well over 18% of Fayette County children have no insurance, our focus and mission has evolved into providing total health care for children from birth through age 17 years. Baby Health Service is now a pediatric health clinic that provides free medical care to children whose families are ineligible for a medical card and cannot afford health insurance. These are the children who often fall through the cracks in our current healthcare system.
The clinic is open five days a week. Clinic hours on Mondays and Fridays are 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. On Tuesday through Thursday, hours are 7:30 a.m. - 12 noon. Our staff consists of 11 physicians who volunteer their time on a rotating basis prior to attending to their own practices. Volunteer board members work in the clinic and help facilitate operation of the clinic. Our only paid staff consists of a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and two R.N’s. This personnel assists the physicians in providing well and sick child examinations, immunizations, x-rays, and blood tests. Medicines are also dispensed at no cost to our families.
In 2008, over 3,000 children received medical care at the Baby Health clinic. Each year our numbers increase. We operate this clinic without United Way or federal funding. Our board members work to meet an operating budget by soliciting funds through grants, foundations, corporations, and individuals in our community.
Through the volunteer efforts of our physicians and board members in 1997, we were presented the prestigious “President’s Service Award” by President Clinton and the Points of Light Foundation. Baby Health Service truly demonstrates what can be accomplished in a community without government reliance.