Medical and Dental Clinics - Union Gospel Mission

Mission Statement

The Christ centered UGM Medical Clinic exists to provide free medical care to those who cannot afford health care.

Vision Statement

Practice Philosophy

Our philosophy is to under-medicate. We spend the time achieving true informed consent empowering patients to direct their health care decisions, eliminate barriers to care through electronic communication after hours and frequent continuity clinics, working toward providing continuous access to health care professionals; addressing the nutritional, spiritual and social health of our patients; refraining from participating in the latest unproven medical fad.

Churches: if your Church hasn’t yet coordinated with us please call 509-248-4510 or contact us to find out how you can assist

New Patients

Prospective new patients: insured, uninsured, or homeless - Please leave your name, date of birth and contact information. When contacting us be sure to select Medical/Dental clinic on the contact form. Prior to arrival email contact is encouraged.

The dental clinic currently offers emergency procedures by appointment. Times and dental appointments are available through the YUGM receptionist at (509) 248-4510.

Clinical Services Provided

Low velocity osteopathic manipulation therapy
Chronic condition management (diabetes, hypertension, lipids, thyroid, atrial fibrillation, CHF, CAD, depression, arthritis)
Nutritional counseling
Wellness exams for all ages
Contraceptive management
Simple orthopedic problems (sprains, strains and impingement)
Joint aspirations, injections
Simple labs on site such as pregnancy testing, strep testing, and urinary infection testing
Partnerships with local labs and hospitals for reduced cost lab and imaging testing
Acute and Chronic Asthma and COPD treatments
EKG testing
Acute illnesses (respiratory infections, staph infections, migraines)

Services not provided

It is the policy of the Yakima Union Gospel Mission Clinic to NOT manage chronic medication refills of certain potentially addictive medications (includes narcotic pain medications, stimulants for ADHD, tranquilizers such as benzos and barbiturates)
Abortion services
Clinician assisted suicide
Labor and Industries Claims
Disability evaluations
Some scans, lab testing, and medical specialty referrals require contracting with insurance companies which might limit those services depending on individual insurance company rules

Free Malpractice for Retired Clinicians

Individuals or groups wishing to volunteer may Contact Jana Lindner, Program Coordinator, at jana@wwahec.org or (206) 441-7137 for malpractice insurance application packets or assistance. Malpractice insurance takes 3-5 weeks from the date of application to become activated.

Licensed health care professionals who are not currently using their Washington State License for paid work (such as retired professionals or people taking a leave of absence from their practice) are eligible for free license renewal, paid by the Washington State Department of Health. This benefit is intended to help eliminate barriers to volunteerism and increase access to health care for Washington’s neediest patients.

If you are a licensed health care professional you wish to volunteer at a Volunteer/Retired Providers Program approved site, you are not currently using your license for paid work, and your professional license is due for renewal within the next three months, please use the form included below. Send all license renewal documents to the address included on the form itself.

The dental clinic is coordinated by the Dental Clinic Director but the volunteer dentists and hygienists keep our doors open. If you would like more information or are interested in volunteering in the dental clinic, please contact Dr. Buehler at (509) 248-4510.

Physicians & Provider Application - Professional Liability Insurance Application form

Volunteer Retired Providers Program - Volunteer Healthcare Provider Certification

We are able to expand our reach through community donations and participation.

Medical Collaboration

Institutions and medical professionals interested in collaborating with the Union Gospel Mission Clinic please contact us.

History of the Medical and Dental Clinics

The Mission's part time dental clinic was opened in 1972. The clinic provides free, quality dental care for Yakima’s homeless staying at the Mission and other struggling people in our valley. The clinic is located at the Mission’s main facility at 1300 N. 1st Street.

With a 15 year history of providing free medical care, the Union Gospel Mission Medical Clinic continues to expand its network of volunteers and services. The first 13 years of service centered around a core group of Christian nurses who organized and maintained a twice weekly half day clinic staffed by volunteer nurse practitioners and physicians. These founding nurses remember being amazed by the generosity of the community, “It was amazing how the medical community stepped in and donated office and medical supplies initially we had several primary care Doctors that volunteered on their days off.” These medical professionals were able to gather medications and equipment and maintain a functioning free clinic for over a decade. Free services were provided for patients without insurance and the homeless. A large part of the impetus for the clinic disappeared with programs providing free care for the homeless such as the Neighborhood Health Connections program.

Not long after this group of nurses disbanded, the inaugural class of Pacific Northwest University College of Osteopathic Medicine stepped in to staff the clinic. Since summer of 2008, over 100 medical student volunteers have participated in a free, urgent care clinic every other Saturday. They managed to secure a $30,000 grant through the American Association of Medical Colleges, repainted and reorganized the inside of the clinic, and maintained a rotating group of volunteer community physicians and nurse practitioners to act as clinic preceptors. Free services have been provided to those without medical insurance.

2011 has brought new collaborations, services and technology. We’ve forged new relationships with local pharmacies and hospital groups. Clinic has been consistently staffed with volunteer nurses, Spanish interpreters and clinicians allowing for half day clinics four times a week. An electronic medical record has replaced paper charts. Patients served are no longer limited to just those without insurance. The medical student staffed clinic has been expanded to every Saturday. Our clinic is a small space but with a robust electronic medical record we have the potential to remotely screen, triage and schedule patients. We are working with local Church groups and hospitals to provide free care to those without insurance and those who cannot afford the insurance they have. No longer solely an urgent care clinic, the UGMC provides full spectrum family medicine services and continuity care. A typical day will see everything from routine physical exams, diabetes and hypertension follow up to lacerations and toe nail removals. Our electronic medical record allows medical professionals to assist in triage and management without being physically present at clinic. We currently have over 20 nurses and medical assistants who have rotated through the clinic since expansion began and many more standing by to help as our hours expand to meet a growing patient panel. Since the beginning of 2011, we’ve seen people living and working at the Mission on an ongoing basis. We have also added more community patients through word of mouth and the medical student Saturday walk-in clinic.

There is much polarized debate surrounding the state of our health care system, but few disagree that the cost burden is crippling. The cost of health care has doubled over the last 10 years. With health care debt being the most common cause of bankruptcy, we all know someone or have been personally affected by the cost. Clinicians feel this pressure through their patient’s struggles and by the ever increasing paperwork demands from insurance companies and hospitals. Most of of us have felt the time pressures placed on clinicians in the factory-like atmosphere of busy waiting and exam rooms. The UGMC is a sanctuary. Health care professionals are free to spend more time with patients. Patients are free of copays, coinsurances, deductibles and facility fees. Stripped of these artificial pressures, the compassionate core of the relationship between patient and health care provider is unleashed.

Future Expansion of the Dental Clinic

Plans are in place to construct a new 2500 s.f. clinic with four new state of the art dental operatories to be used full time by 36 locally qualified volunteer dentists.

The full time clinic will provide emergency procedures, restorative, oral surgery and hygiene care. The new clinic will be complete with an array of supplies a staff lounge with a private office for volunteer dentists.

Vision Statement

To provide a full time UGM—Medical Clinic.
To staff a full time clinic operated by volunteer doctors, nurses, clinicians, translators and other on-site volunteers.
Combine consistently staffed clinic days with an EMR(electronic medical record) bringing continuity
To provide and maintain long term access to free medical care for those living and working within the UGM community.
To provide healthcare to patients who are without medical insurance and those who can’t afford the insurance they have.
To provide churches with a means to access free health care for sick and struggling parishioners through a church member nurse.
Establish with local churches “clinical teams” comprised of nurses that expand our outreach beyond the UGM community using the twin tools of EMR(electronic medical records) and continuity clinics to achieve free high quality medical care.
To provide an online resource of information and medical dialogue with patients and providers.
Create opportunities for donors, volunteers and health care professionals to use their gifts and talents to experience making a personal difference in the lives of the people who seek help from the UGM—MC.
To maintain support for the med student staffed Saturday morning clinic and increase student involvement in other areas as we expand

Values Statement

God as our Source for truth, direction, provision and human dignity.
We serve God, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
All services provided to those in need should be done to preserve the dignity of the individual in love, offering hope, mercy and compassion.
We will serve our community without discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability.
Intentionally look at new and innovative ways to do our work.
Provide medical care that helps healing vs. enabling a condition.
Share our expertise with others.
Pursue excellence in the delivery of medical care.