Free Medical Clinic

What Free Medical Clinic does

The Free Medical Clinic, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in South Carolina in 1984 that provides free healthcare services to uninsured adult residents of the Midlands region who have household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level and who lack health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or VA benefits. Founded by Reverend Bill Bouknight and the Bethlehem Center and inspired by a free clinic in Roanoke, Virginia, the organization has cumulatively served over 60,000 patients and dispensed over $100 million in medications since inception. In 2024, 1,518 patients received care and 11,000+ prescriptions were dispensed.

The clinic operates from a single 5,875-square-foot facility at 1875 Harden Street in Columbia, SC, equipped with six examination rooms, a small laboratory, a pharmacy (now non-dispensing as of June 1, 2025), a classroom, and office space. Core services include walk-in primary care, by-appointment specialty care (cardiology, endocrinology, general surgery, gynecology, infectious disease, nephrology, orthopedics, pulmonology), diagnostic and imaging referrals, patient education, and social-services navigation. Medication access was restructured in May 2025 via a partnership with Welvista's Medication Assistance Pharmacy, which delivers 90-day prescription supplies directly to patients' preferred addresses statewide. Three local hospital systems — Lexington Medical Center, MUSC Health, and Prisma Health — provide ancillary services, financial assistance, on-site treatment of clinic patients, and physician volunteers.

The business model is community-funded philanthropy rather than fee-for-service: no insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or VA is billed, and all services are free to eligible patients. Operating capital is sourced from individual and corporate donations, church and foundation contributions, grants (including a $100,000 United Way of the Midlands grant for fiscal year 2025-2026), and in-kind support from the three partner hospital systems. Patient acquisition is community-led, relying on walk-ins during posted hours (Monday-Thursday 7:30am-4:30pm, Friday 7:30am-12pm), word-of-mouth, and referrals from health departments and social-service partners rather than paid marketing. Leadership is provided by Executive Director Caryn Pumphrey and a volunteer Board of Directors with representation from the partner hospital systems.

Name

Free Medical Clinic

Legal name

The Free Medical Clinic, Inc.

Website

https://freemedclinic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Free Medical Clinic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Columbia, SC providing free walk-in primary care, specialty care, diagnostic referrals, and medication access to uninsured adults at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level in the Midlands region. Funded by donations, grants, and three partner hospital systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) (621111), Outpatient Care Centers (6214)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Care for Underserved Populations (e.g., migrant, homeless, refugee clinics) (HLAFAGAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retail & Walk-In Primary Care Clinics (HLAFAGAC), Community-Based Preventive & Health Promotion Clinics (HLAFAGAO)

Keywords

• Free medical clinic
• Uninsured patient care
• Primary care services
• Specialty care referrals
• Medication assistance program

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: The clinic relies on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and churches to fund operations. Donations help fulfill the mission of providing high-quality healthcare to uninsured patients.
2. Foundation and Grant Funding: The clinic receives grants from organizations such as United Way of the Midlands ($100,000 grant for 2025-2026 fiscal year) to support access to care programs.
3. Hospital System Support: The three local hospital systems (Lexington Medical Center, MUSC Health, Prisma Health) provide ancillary services and support the clinic's operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Free Medical Clinic provides free, walk-in primary medical care to uninsured adults in the Midlands of South Carolina whose household income is at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. In addition to primary care, the clinic offers appointment-based on-site specialty care (cardiology, endocrinology, general surgery, gynecology, infectious disease, nephrology, orthopedics, pulmonology), diagnostic referrals (laboratory, X-ray, imaging), patient education, and free prescription medications through its partnership with Welvista's Medication Assistance Pharmacy.

Product overview

Free Medical Clinic is a nonprofit healthcare organization offering a unified set of free medical services to uninsured adults. The core offering consists of walk-in primary care services, supplemented by on-site specialty care appointments and diagnostic referrals. A key component is the medication access program operated in partnership with Welvista, which provides free prescription medications delivered directly to patients. The organization also provides patient education and social services referrals. All services are provided at no cost to patients whose household income is at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level and who lack health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary Care Services Walk-in primary medical care provided at no cost to uninsured patients, including routine check-ups, diagnosis, and treatment of acute and chronic conditions. Available to adults with no health insurance whose household income is at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level.
• On-Site Specialty Care Limited specialty care available by appointment in cardiology, endocrinology, general surgery, gynecology, infectious disease, nephrology, orthopedics, and pulmonology. Provided to eligible uninsured adult patients.
• Medication Access Program (via Welvista MAP) Free prescription medication program delivered to patients' preferred address via Welvista's Medication Assistance Pharmacy (MAP); provides a 90-day supply with direct-to-patient delivery for eligible uninsured adults.
• Diagnostic Referrals Referrals for laboratory testing, X-ray, and diagnostic imaging services through hospital partner networks, coordinated for eligible uninsured adult patients.
• Patient Education Health education services and materials provided to patients to support disease management and wellness, delivered at the clinic's on-site classroom.
• Social Services Assistance Assistance connecting patients with housing, food, and other social service resources in the community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,518 patients served in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WelvistacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2025Partnership with Welvista to expand patient access to medications. Welvista's Medication Assistance Pharmacy (MAP) program provides free prescription medications to uninsured patients throughout the state. Eligible patients are enrolled in the MAP program and receive 90-day supplies of medications delivered directly to their preferred address. The clinic's on-site pharmacy became non-dispensing on June 1, 2025 as part of this transition.
• Prisma HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three local hospital systems providing ancillary services and support. Many Prisma Health practices treat Clinic patients on-site. Multiple Prisma Health physicians serve as volunteer providers and serve on the Board of Directors.
• MUSC Health (Medical University of South Carolina)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three local hospital systems providing ancillary services and support. MUSC provides financial assistance programs and treats Clinic patients on-site through various practices.
• Lexington Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three local hospital systems providing ancillary services and support. Lexington Medical Center provides financial assistance programs and treats Clinic patients on-site.
• SC Free Clinics AssociationminorOthersThe clinic is affiliated with the SC Free Clinics Association, a network supporting free medical clinics throughout South Carolina.
• National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC)minorOthersThe clinic is affiliated with NAFC, the national organization supporting free and charitable clinics.
• Volunteers in Medicine (VIM)minorOthersThe clinic is affiliated with Volunteers in Medicine, a national organization supporting volunteer-based healthcare for the underserved.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HealthNet (Indianapolis): Federally qualified health center network providing primary and specialty care to uninsured and underinsured populations — comparable in mission and patient base though with different funding model (federal grants).
• Open Arms Free Clinic: Wisconsin nonprofit free clinic offering free primary care, specialty referrals, and medication assistance to uninsured low-income residents — comparable in service offering and volunteer-based delivery model.
• Volunteers in Medicine (Hilton Head): Free medical clinic in South Carolina providing free care to uninsured low-income residents using volunteer physicians, similar in mission, eligibility model, and reliance on hospital partnerships as The Free Medical Clinic.
• Bread of Healing Clinic: Milwaukee free clinic providing primary care, specialty referrals, and pharmacy assistance to uninsured adults using volunteer providers — directly comparable in service mix and target population.
• Grace Medical Home: Orlando nonprofit medical home providing comprehensive free primary and specialty care to uninsured low-income adults, with pharmacy assistance and community partnerships — closely mirrors The Free Medical Clinic's model.
• Berkeley Free Clinic: Long-standing volunteer-staffed free clinic providing primary care and ancillary services to uninsured patients — comparable in operating philosophy (walk-in, volunteer providers, donation-funded).
• Welvista: South Carolina nonprofit providing free prescription medications to uninsured residents statewide — operates the MAP program that The Free Medical Clinic now uses, making it both a strategic partner and a directly comparable mission-aligned peer.
• Good Samaritan Health Center: Atlanta-based nonprofit providing free/sliding-scale primary care, specialty referrals, and pharmacy services to uninsured and underinsured patients — directly comparable in delivery model and patient population.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC): National network and advocacy organization supporting 1,400+ free and charitable clinics including The Free Medical Clinic — comparable at the ecosystem/network level rather than direct service delivery.
• SC Free Clinics Association: South Carolina statewide association of free clinics; The Free Medical Clinic is a member. Provides shared services, advocacy, and peer support across the state's free-clinic ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/freemedclinicsc
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheFreeMedicalClinic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-free-medical-clinic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Free Medical Clinic