Alliance Medical Ministry Works to Address Health Disparities in Wake County
Barriers to Health
As of 2023, 9.47% of people under the age of 65 in Wake County are without health insurance. Being uninsured can lead to a variety of adverse health outcomes, including not receiving regular preventative care and check-ups, which can lead to people not being able to properly manage conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. People without health insurance are often not able to access dental care and mental health care, both of which also affect overall physical health a great deal. The mission of Alliance Medical Ministry (AMM) staff is to address this health disparity in our community.
“Alliance Medical Ministry originated in 2003 and was founded by some community leaders from Cary United Methodist Church and Dr. Susan Weaver, who saw a need for uninsured adults living in poverty who were frequent visitors to the ER,” said Pete Tannenbaum, Alliance Medical Ministry’s Executive Director. “AMM appeals to all denominations and is not a religious organization – despite being located in an old church. The founders knew of a Memphis-based clinic called Church Health, which had a similar patient demographic. Church Health has been a model for many free and charitable clinics.”
Holistic Care for Patients
The population AMM particularly serves is working adults without health insurance, who may only work part-time, work for employers that do not offer health benefits, or who cannot afford insurance with their current pay. AMM provides what they describe as “whole-person” care, meaning they treat the body, mind, and spirit with initiatives that include a community garden where clients can get fresh produce, cooking and exercise classes, and access to onsite registered dieticians, family physicians, licensed mental health counselors, and pastoral counselors, among other clinicians.
According to Tannenbaum, access to affordable healthcare remains an issue in Wake County that our community must continue to work to resolve.
“Even after Medicaid expansion, there are an estimated 70,000 (and growing ) adults in Wake County who do not have access to health care and are uninsured or are uninsurable,” stated Tannenbaum. “Wake County is among the most expensive places to live in the state. If you make more than $21,000 as a single adult – you make too much for Medicaid. AMM wants to keep our patients healthy and help them manage their chronic diseases. AMM is a free and charitable clinic and does not take insurance or Medicaid. We are one of the largest in the state and serve the most underserved populations in Wake County. We all have an AMM patient in our lives – you see them every day. They take care of our children, our parents, our property. They work in restaurants. They are people you and I see every day.”
The Importance of Volunteers
According to Tannenbaum, AMM has a full-time staff of 34 people, comprising three physicians, two nurse practitioners, a physician’s assistant, a registered dietitian, a social worker, and supporting staff. More than half of the staff are bilingual, which helps overcome language barriers. Tannenbaum describes the staff as the most empathetic and compassionate care providers he has met. However, with a limited staff serving a large demographic, Tannenbaum highlighted that volunteers are vital to AMM’s operations.
“Volunteers are critical,” said Tannenbaum. “We have many medical volunteers, such as a cardiologist, a psychiatrist, two endocrinologists, and an allergist. Volunteers also play a critical role in keeping our garden in good shape and in making flu kits and other kits we hand out to patients.”
Tannenbaum estimated that AMM will host more than 200 volunteers this year, who will spend more than 600 hours serving AMM. He expressed how important the dedication of volunteers from the Wake County community has been to making AMM a thriving non-profit.
“AMM is supported by community philanthropy,” said Tannenbaum. “We rely on individual donors, foundations, and corporate donors to keep our doors open. It is a real challenge to provide medical care and not receive any reimbursement for that. AMM has excelled because our community steps up to the plate each and every year.”
To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit Alliance Medical Ministry’s website or call (919) 250-3320.