The Alliance for African Assistance (Alliance) Board of Directors has long desired a clinic through which to offer primary medical care to their client base and the extended community of refugees and immigrants in San Diego.  The Alliance began as a small grassroots group of volunteers comprised of African refugees working to help other Africans in 1989. The Alliance has evolved into one of the region’s most unique non-profit, multi-cultural, mutual assistance association & voluntary resettlement agency.  Guided by Christian values, its mission is to assist refugees, immigrants, economically challenged and the underserved to become self-sufficient and productive members of their communities. The Alliance has the capacity and experience to resettle refugees and serves hundreds of refugees and immigrants from around the globe each year. Today the Alliance has a staff of 27 from 16 different countries providing services through multiple programs. In 2001, the Alliance purchased a building on El Cajon Boulevard that would accommodate not only the Alliance’s office but also adequate space for the medical clinic.

The Alliance Health Clinic (Clinic) is a primary care medical facility providing comprehensive, family practice care to the community regardless of age, sex, or pre-existing condition.  It provides routine and urgent medical services ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics. The Clinic is unique in that it is located in the same building as the Alliance, providing for a centralized place for services to the refugee community: health, resettlement/housing, education, after school program, translation/telemedicine communication in 80 different languages and job placement. The clinic aims to improve the health and well being of these populations in addition to other medically underserved communities in San Diego County by focusing on preventive health programs and medical care services in a culturally sensitive and competent fashion. In addition, the clinic hours are strategic in that care will be conveniently provided for after work hours. The Clinic is a non-profit organization governed by its own Board of Directors.

Clinic Hours:

The clinic hours are Monday to Thursday, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Facility:

The Clinic is located on 5952 El Cajon Blvd (two blocks west of College Ave. in the vicinity of San Diego State University).  El Cajon Boulevard is a major east-west corridor and College Avenue is a major north-south corridor.  Several bus routes run along both of these major streets.

There are 6 examination rooms, a physician’s office, nurse’s workstation and a laboratory.  The waiting area is equipped with culturally competent patient education materials and audio-visuals.

Staff:

Highly trained and motivated healthcare and other service providers will staff the Clinic.

The CEO is Walter Lam. Mr. Lam is the CEO and founder of the Alliance for African Assistance. The Medical Director is Dr. Martin Kabongo, MD, PhD. Dr. Kabongo practices within the UCSD Healthcare Scripps Ranch medical practice. He is a former president of the San Diego Academy of Family Physicians and a current member of their Executive Committee.

Scope of Services:

The Clinic will provide basic primary care services– comprehensive family practice service including minor emergency services. The Clinic will service its patients with state-of-the-art, evidence-based, compassionate, cost effective, continuous quality care delivered in a culturally- competent manner. These services include:

*    Well Adult Check-up                                        *    Well Baby Check-up

*    Immunization-Pediatric and Adult                      *    Pediatric Health

*    Pregnancy Testing                                             *    Birth Control

*    STD Testing                                                     *    Diabetes Management

*    Pap Smears                                                      *    Laboratory Testing

*    Hypertension Management                                *    Ingrown Toenail Removal

*    Liquid Nitrogen Therapy                                   *    Suturing of Minor Wounds

*    Health Education and Counseling                      *    Preventative Screening

*    Tuberculosis Testing                                         *    Eye Testing

*    Home Visitation Services                                  *    Mental Health Screening

*    Smoking Related Issues                                    *    Social Work Services

*    Child and Elder Abuse Screening                     

*    Alcohol and Drug Abuse Screening

*    Preventive Services for Children and Adolescents

*    Referral to Appropriate Health Care Facilitators

Referrals to specialized care are available for other services such as dentistry, optometry, cardiology, gastroenterology, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, nutrition, psychology and others. The Clinic has a patient transfer agreement with the University of California, San Diego Medical Center and Paradise Valley Hospital in National City.

The Clinic will become a resource in the community to provide for: cultural sensitivity training for doctors and medical students; training for American doctors to serve in Africa; and residency opportunities for refugee doctors to complete US re-certification.

Fee Schedule:

It is the policy of the Alliance Health Clinic to serve all patients regardless of ability to pay. Discounts for essential services are offered depending on for family size and income on a sliding fee scale. Medi-Cal and Medicare are accepted. The Clinic is in the process of application for the acceptance of all other major insurances.