McGregor Clinic was founded as a private non-profit entity on
by a group of proactive HIV/AIDS infected and
affected individuals. The clinic was originally operated under the
auspices of the Lee County Health Department, however, a rapidly growing
epidemic and scarce financial resources forced the Health Department to
terminate provider services in December of 1997. Disagreement over
clinic closure, and the resulting void of personal choice in health care
providers, incited a public meeting on January 6, 1998. Over 300
people congregated including clinic clients, friends, families, and the
community at large, to request an opportunity to search for needed
funding to maintain the clinic. This historical event produced the
HIV/AIDS Patient Empowerment Coalition (HAPEC), created for the purpose
of developing a strategic plan to operate the clinic as a non-profit
entity. The coalition was comprised of clients from caregivers
throughout the state, members of the business, medical and university
communities and a strong representation of community advocates. The Project was indeed a unique endeavor, for never before had
clients taken such an active role in the quest for quality health care. As strategic plan development moved forward, there followed a deluge of
requests for copies. HIV/AIDS clinics throughout the country were
finding themselves in similar financial situations, and wanted to use
the McGregor Clinic Plan as a blueprint for keeping their doors open. Following the completion of the strategic plan, it was accepted on
October 1998. With a financial plan in place, The McGregor Clinic became
a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity in November 1999. In the beginning, clinic services were limited to HIV/AIDS primary
care and an onsite laboratory. Today, The McGregor Clinic has greatly
extended its capacity to provide care, and in addition offers Ryan White
and PAC case management, participation in clinical drug trials,
confidential HIV counseling and testing, patient and community
education, a food pantry, and a clothes closet. The clinic takes pride
in offering culturally competent services, and the clinic staff reflects
the composition of the population it serves, with bilingual personnel
in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.
