Samaritan House’s two highly respected free clinics provide a medical home to low-income and uninsured individuals residing in San Mateo County. This enables them to access the health care they need without accumulating the disabling debt often associated with healthcare expenses. The clinics offer comprehensive, integrated services, including primary and specialty medical, dental, vision, and mental health care.
We take a holistic, person-centered approach to healthcare. A patient starts by meeting with either a Case Manager or Clinic Manager to assess social, financial, housing, and other needs. Our team of physicians, dentists, and staff then helps patients get the care they need.
Who is Treated?
Patients of our clinics are residents in the neighborhood. They are typically employed and tend to earn just enough income to be ineligible for Medi-Cal coverage, yet do not receive health insurance through their employers and cannot afford to pay for “out-of-pocket” health insurance. Without health insurance, access to even basic medical care becomes an unaffordable luxury.
According to the California Health Interview Survey, 8.1% of residents in San Mateo County are uninsured.
Professional Medical & Dental Volunteers
Our professional medical and dental volunteers at the clinic do what they love: treat patients. With no insurance billing, volunteer physicians and dentists are free to concentrate on caring for their patients. The clinic philosophy emphasizes not the volume of patients seen but the strength of relationships built with patients. Our volunteers come from private practices as well as major medical groups in the area, including Kaiser, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Stanford, and UCSF. To learn more about joining our dedicated team of volunteers, please click here.
- Internal medicine
- Nephrology
- Gynecology
- Breast and gynecological cancer screenings
- Dermatology
- Diabetic care
- Endocrinology
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
- Ophthalmology and optometry
- Podiatry
- Nutritional counseling
- Pulmonology and more
8,800 Total patient visits at our Free Clinics in the past year
Samaritan House Free Clinics
SAN MATEO FREE CLINICS
19 W. 39th Ave
San Mateo, CA 94403
Hours by appointment only.
Monday - Friday 9am- 12:30pm, 1pm - 5pm
Horas solo con cita previa
Lunes a Viernes: 9am- 12:30pm, 1pm - 5pm
Initial referral from a Case Manager at 650-347-3648
Referencia inicial de un administrador de casos al 650-347-3648
REDWOOD CITY FREE CLINICS
114 Fifth Ave
Redwood City, CA 94063
Hours by appointment only
Monday – Friday: 9am- 12:30pm, 1:30pm - 5pm
Horas solo con cita previa
Lunes a Viernes: 9am- 12:30pm, 1:30pm - 5pm
Patients who require specialty care not offered at the clinics are referred to other doctors or agencies in the community who often generously offer their services pro bono to our patients.
Food Pharmacy
In an innovative collaboration with our partners at Second Harvest Food Bank and Sequoia Healthcare District, Samaritan House established the Food Pharmacies at our two Free Healthcare Clinics. Our volunteer physicians write “prescriptions” for low-income patients who have diabetes. Then, the patients are able to fill those prescriptions on-site at our Food Pharmacies. Each week, patients receive healthful foods (fresh produce, whole grains, and high-quality proteins), nutritional counseling, and health education. Delivery service is available for patients who are elderly or have disabilities.
Our Food Pharmacy team also produces a Nutrition Spotlight Newsletter and provides education on the importance of a nutritionally healthy diet as well as inspirations on how to prepare delicious healthy meals.
Mental Health
Poverty puts immense pressure on individuals and families and they need support, not just to navigate their way to self-reliance, but to make sure their mental health is being cared for along the way.
Our Free Clinics of San Mateo and Redwood City deliver exceptional mental healthcare in patients’ native languages through individual psychotherapy, family and/or group counseling, referrals to psychotherapeutic workshops, and support with medication management.
Since its initial expansion in 2020, Samaritan House’s Behavioral Healthcare program has grown significantly, notably with a fully expanded psychology internship program and group visits, addressing critical areas such as trauma, domestic violence, and medical comorbidities like diabetes. This work has garnered national attention, resulting in an invitation to showcase our program’s achievements at October’s NAFC 2023 Charitable Healthcare Symposium in Palm Springs.
Dental Services Offered
The free dental program was established in 1998 and has since expanded tremendously to meet consistently high demand. Dental Clinic services include fillings, cleanings, extractions, and root canals. With the guidance of a part-time Dental Director, a small paid staff, and countless volunteers, we are able to provide professional dental care to low-income individuals.
Sharing Compassion and Care
Samaritan House periodically provides tours to national and international professionals studying the success of the Medical Clinic model. Another service that our Free Clinics provide to the community is the opportunity for students and residents from UCSF, Stanford and other Bay Area schools to engage in the Free Clinic. This helps foster a new generation of socially-minded physicians and leaders.
