By Rachel Haynie
 

(l–r) Dr. Larry Kline and Dr. Stacy L. Smithson play at the Doctors’ Lounge benefit concert. Photo by Rachel Haynie

The lineup of patients at the Free Medical Clinic (FMC) was the inspiration recently for a lineup of performing physicians.

The first annual Doctors’ Lounge benefit concert raised more than $30,000 to sustain operations and services of the FMC. It brought together an appreciative audience more than willing to sit and wait for the doctors to appear.

 Representing a variety of specialty practices in the Midlands, each doctor performed solo with his instrument of choice. Then, while FMC Executive Director Dennis Coker filled audience members in on the clinic’s current needs, the performing doctors hunkered together in a corner of their makeshift Green Room.

 Coming to consensus quickly on what songs they all knew, they cobbled together a spontaneous finale that would bring the house down. And it did.

 Jamming together onstage, doctors “took a ride” that brought the audience to its feet in thunderous applause. Their first time performing together was, for some, also the first time they had met or worked together in any capacity.

 For this gala night, Dr. Joey Evans of the Chapin Family Practice added electric bass to the banjo playing he began as a diversion in medical school. Other doctors performing with guitar were Dr. Timothy D. Malone, Columbia Psychiatric Associates; and Dr. Brooks Mays, USC School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology.

 On strings was Dr. Larry Klein, Professional Pathology Services, P.C., who brought along a few friends from his bluegrass and traditional music involvement, both on public radio and at Bill’s Pickin’ Parlor. Klein plays banjo, dobro, and guitar, and hosts a radio show.

 Dr. Richard Davis, USC School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, provided a memorable vocal performance. Dr. John Carnes, SC Neurological Clinic, as well as Dr. Stacy L. Smithson, Lake Murray OB/GYN, performed at the piano.

 The doctors’ unified reason for taking to the stage was to raise awareness and funds for the Free Medical Clinic, Inc. As Coker explained during his remarks, the clinic’s challenge to meet the community’s demand for services is outpacing its resources.  Physicians have been among the greatest supporters of the clinic throughout its 22 years of operation, as volunteers and now as performers.

 “Our greatest needs are funds for operations and volunteers, especially physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and pharmacy techs.” Coker said the immediate loss of nurse practitioner Pat Burton will be sorely felt as was Michele Head’s departure a year ago.

 “Having a nurse practitioner on staff has allowed us to increase the number of patients seen in a day and has affected patient continuity.”

 Coker said commonly a returning patient has only a small chance of being seen by the initial health care provider because volunteer physicians’ schedules seldom match up with a patient’s return visit.

 As it celebrated its first two decades of service in 2004, the Free Medical Clinic, Inc., had provided close to 111,000 cumulative patient encounters that otherwise could have taxed public and private health resources thousands of dollars.

 Moving forward with support from the health care community and the public at large, the clinic has been able to dramatically increase the number of patients encountered, medications dispensed, and patient education classes offered.

 To advance its legacy of caring, FMC seeks volunteers to help in the myriad tasks it takes to operate the clinic. Coker said the clinic needs more volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. “We also need chaplains and administrative help,” Coker said.

 The Free Medical Clinic is located at 1875 Harden Street and provides quality healthcare, at no cost, to residents of the community who cannot pay for such services and have no medical insurance. Primary care, medications and referrals for specialty care, lab, and diagnostic tests are the services provided.