The Dr. G. Richard Dundas Free Clinic (formerly the Bennington Free Clinic) offers free medical care. For this reason, we only serve uninsured or underinsured adults living in the Bennington County area. Because we are a clinic, we do not perform dental or emergency care. Instead, we offer primary medical care, care coordination, and referrals to our patients. By providing free health care to those that cannot afford it, we aim to improve the well-being of our community.
Health Care at the Dr. G. Richard Dundas Free Clinic
The Free Clinic serves uninsured adults, 16 and over, who cannot otherwise afford health care. You may be eligible for care if you:
- Do not have health insurance, or
- Have catastrophic-only health insurance that does not pay for preventative/primary care; and
- Your family income is under 400% of the federal poverty guidelines
You may be eligible for other health care programs as well. If so, we can help you enroll. Of course, we will continue to provide health care as you switch to other providers.
Photo credit: George Bouret for the Hill Country Observer
Our services include:
- Acute and chronic disease management
- Physical exams
- Wellness education
- Referrals to reproductive health services
- Referrals to local, state, and federal resources
- Specialist referrals when medically necessary
- Help getting prescriptions
- Help enrolling in state insurance programs
- Tobacco Cessation services
- Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)
Visit the Dr. G. Richard Dundas Free Clinic
The clinic is open weekly on Thursday evenings from 6-9 PM. Additionally, morning hours are held on the third Monday of each month. We offer specific reproductive health care appointments on the 4th Monday of each month – time varies based on the provider. In the event of a medical emergency, please call 911.
Making an Appointment
Space is limited, so please make an appointment. You can make an appointment by calling us at (802) 447-3700. Alternatively, you may make an appointment by emailing info@gbicsbennington.org. If you can’t attend your scheduled appointment however, please call us to cancel or reschedule. We do not provide emergency care. In the event of a medical emergency please call 911.
All are Welcome
Our waiting rooms are sometimes called the “United Nations of Bennington.” That’s because we make a point to welcome all people. In fact, we’ve created policies to encourage diversity. For example, we reach out to local farms that employ people who are undocumented. So no matter your race, color, national origin, age, ability, sex, gender identity, religion, political beliefs, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, or source of income, we welcome you.
Providers
The Free Clinic offers high-quality health care at no charge because of our volunteers. In fact, even our doctors and nurses volunteer their time at the clinic. Many of our providers come from the local community. As such, most are affiliated with Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.
The Free Clinic’s Partners
A wide range of local and regional partners support the clinic. For example, faith communities, charitable and social service organizations, and state agencies are among our supporters. Additionally, SVMC, local leaders, businesses, private donors, and employers also support our efforts.
The Free Clinic partners with the NAFC’s Volunteers in Medicine and the Vermont Free & Referral Clinics. The NAFC is a national nonprofit building a network of free primary health care clinics. Like GBCS, NAFC recognizes the strengths of those in need and respects their dignity. Similarly, Vermont Free & Referral Clinics is a state-wide association of free clinics. As 1 of 9 VFRC free clinics, we receive partial funding through the Vermont State budget process. Notably, for every dollar we receive from the State as a VFRC clinic, we’re able to provide eight more dollars worth of medical services for our patients. Altogether, GBCS and our partners are committed to creating a culture of caring in our communities.