The Health Brigade, formerly Fan Free Clinic, is a non-profit free community clinic located in the Museum District in

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

. The clinic was first formed in 1968 by a nurse, two doctors and a minister and in 1970, was located on Floyd Avenue at the Emerson House of the First Unitarian Church before moving to their current location on Thompson Street. It is considered to be an early example of

free clinics A free clinic or walk in clinic is a health care facility in the United States offering services to economically disadvantaged individuals for free or at a nominal cost. The need for such a clinic arises in societies where there is no universal ...

, and the oldest of its kind in Virginia. The Health Brigade operates with both paid employees and unpaid volunteers, and clients of the clinic must undergo a financial screening to determine their eligibility. As a whole, the Health Brigade offers primary care services and testing and treatment of

sexually-transmitted diseases Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the older term venereal diseases, are infections that are Transmission (medicine), spread by Human sexual activity, sexual activity, especi ...

. The separate areas available are the medical clinic, health and outreach services, mental health services, and

HIV The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...

testing An examination (exam or evaluation) or test is an educational assessment intended to measure a test-taker's knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical fitness, or classification in many other topics (e.g., beliefs). A test may be administered verba ...

and information. In 2016, the Fan Free Clinic changed its name to Health Brigade.

In other media

* The clinic is mentioned in the 1997 novel '' Unnatural Exposure'' by

Patricia Cornwell Patricia Cornwell (born Patricia Carroll Daniels; June 9, 1956) is an American crime writer. She is known for her best-selling novels featuring medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, of which the first was inspired by a series of sensational murders in ...

References

External links

* {{official website, http://www.healthbrigade.org/ 1968 establishments in Virginia Clinics in Virginia Free goods and services Health charities in the United States Non-profit organizations based in Richmond, Virginia Organizations established in 1968 Medical and health organizations based in Virginia