As the number of patients the Loudoun Community Free Clinic serves has increased over the last three years, the number of physicians volunteering there has not gained likewise.
In January, the clinic had to cancel a diabetic clinic after two volunteers moved from the region. Media attention brought in a new volunteer doctor and the diabetic clinic was reopened.
But the need for volunteers of all stripes Ñ interpreters, administrative Ñ has not decreased. And physicians are the critical element to making the clinic work.
Last month, the clinic closed its doors on Wednesday night for the first time since opening permanently in 2002. At least 20 uninsured patients were turned away.
That night, only one volunteer physician was signed up to work. When he had an unexpected emergency, the clinic closed.
"It was sad," said executive director Lyle Werner.
Right now, the clinic has 14 volunteer physicians on its rolls. Even before it closed its doors to all waiting patients that Wednesday night, patients were being turned away. One doctor can see about 12 patients, while three doctors can see about 40.
"If you had 40 or 60 [doctors], that means someone would only work once every three months," Werner said. "Many hands make little work."
EIGHT of the clinic's 14 volunteer doctors are local Loudoun physicians. The other six travel from out of the county to volunteer.
Werner had made repeated appeals to the local community to bring in more doctors, but the response has not been strong.
"Maybe we're destined to reach the ones that are not local," she said.
The clinic has received financial and moral support from the local community, and specialists frequently agree to take referrals from the clinic for patients the clinic can't treat.
But it's the general practitioners that the clinic needs. It's open to uninsured adult Loudoun residents on a first-come, first-serve basis Wednesday and Thursday nights. The most common treatments are for hypertension and diabetes.
Dr. Kurt Rodney is an emergency physician and the clinic's medical director. He uses mailings and visits to hospital staff meetings as a way to encourage participation.
"This is a chance to practice medicine for people who really need it," he said. "It's very low-stress compared to private practice."
In addition to doing administrative support, Rodney volunteers once a month to treat patients.
"I know people are busy," he said. "We're always willing to accept anyone who wants to volunteer for any amount of time."
THE LOUDOUN Community Free Clinic is a relatively young operation, opening its doors permanently in 2002.
The Arlington Free Clinic, meanwhile, opened 11 years ago and has a very strong physician volunteer list: more than 500 volunteers.
It was founded by doctors, which helped encourage their colleagues to volunteer.
"As you start out in the beginning, it's hard," said Arlington volunteer director Lee Miller. "In the beginning, people are skeptical. Then you get some people who have a good experience ... then people say, 'OK, I'm willing to give it a try.'"
In Loudoun, Werner is planning to implement a volunteer recognition program where doctors receive a plaque to hang in their offices. That way, not only are they recognized, their own patients will learn of the clinic's existence.
Arlington has a similar program, and also has picnic and theater trips in volunteers' honor.
"You have to take care of the folks," Miller said.