Welcome to The Saturday Free Clinic!

The Saturday Free Clinic provides free alternative health care for people who have little or no income and do not have extended health benefits (like Blue Cross).

The next clinic will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2012. Generally clinics take place every second Saturday, with appointments typically being offered between 10 am to 1 pm, depending on availability of practitioners.

The clinic is run by volunteers. Licensed health care practitioners volunteer their services to offer treatments including acupuncture, homeopathy, massage therapy, naturopathic medicine, osteopathy, and physical therapy. Other volunteers serve as receptionist and host during the clinic, ensuring that it runs smoothly.

The Saturday Free Clinic is located at 1221 Barrington Street, near South Street, in Halifax's south end, and is on the #7 and #9 bus routes, and close to the routes along Barrington and Spring Garden Road.


Appointments • 473-7407

Appointments must be made in advance, as we are not set up for drop-in treatments.

People can only request an appointment for the current clinic; we do not keep requests for appointments for future clinics.

Please call our answering machine at 473-7407 to request an appointment. Because this number is not answered, leave a message with a return phone number and the best time to call you back. If you know, state what kind of appointment you would like.

Current choices of treatment include:
* Acupuncture
* Homeopathy
* Massage therapy
* Naturopathy
* Physiotherapy


The booking clerk will call you back within a few days of your call. If it is your first appointment, they will discuss financial eligibility with you and tell you about other clinic policies.

A person is only eligible for one appointment per clinic, and can receive up to a maximum of 3 treatments in each practice per calendar year. Over time, a person may use the services of more than one practitioner at the Saturday Free Clinic (for example, both a massage therapist and a naturopath).

Please plan to arrive 15 minutes early for your first appointment to fill out a Health History form.

The clinic is scent free, so please do not use cologne, perfume or any heavily scented products the day of your appointment.

Eligibility

The clinic aims to provide alternative health care for people who are in need of, but cannot afford, services. There has been an enthusiastic response to this free service, so you are asked to use the clinic only if you meet the financial eligibility guidelines. The clinic is not for those whose extended health care benefits have run out for the year, or who have savings and can afford occasional treatments.

The clinic offers treatments to individuals who are 16 years of age or older.

The Saturday Free Clinic requires proof of financial eligibility OR a referral from a community or social service organization.

To be financially eligible, the guidelines used by the Saturday Free Clinic are identical to Dalhousie Legal Aid Service (based on Nova Scotia Income Assistance).

A person is eligible for The Saturday Free Clinic services if their gross monthly income is under:

1 adult • $1,067.00
+ 1 child • $1,416.00
+ 2 child • $1,700.00
+ 3 children • $1,924.00

2 adults • $1,424
+ 1 child • $1,708.00
+ 2 child $1,932.00
+ 3 child $2,156.00

What kind of treatments are offered at the Saturday Free Clinic?

ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is an ancient form of medicine originating in China. For thousands of years this system of medicine has been developing treatments for diseases of all kinds.
It treats anxiety/depression, digestive problems, insomnia, headaches and pain of all kinds and much, much more. Acupuncture also supports the health of people who are getting treatment for cancer and other diseases. Perhaps most importantly ,it is an effective preventative medicine.
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is an up -to-date system of medicine that is used in many hospitals and clinics in China and around the world.

MASSAGE THERAPY
Massage therapy melts away stress and tension, relieving associated headaches and muscular aches & pains. By encouraging the body's own healing processes to act, massage therapy reduces injury healing time. Massage therapy aids in the healing process from injury or over-use, and is an excellent form of preventive health care.

HOMEOPATHY
Homeopathy is a system of natural therapeutics which heals deeply, gently and thoroughly. It has been in use around the globe for over 200 years. Founded by Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, it is a complete system of medical theory and practice that has become recognized internationally as one of the principal forms of Complementary and Alternative Health Care. Homeopathy can be used to promote rapid and deep healing of a wide variety of ailments and injuries, both acute and chronic. It also has a long history of effective prevention of illness.

For an excellent, thorough description of homeopathic medicine, visit: Maritime Society of Homeopaths

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
Naturopathic Doctors use therapies such as nutritional medicine, detoxification, herbal medicine, and acupuncture. While any person can benefit from naturopathic medicine, specific concerns may include digestive complaints, arthritis, heart disease, anxiety, depression, cancer, insomnia, low energy and chronic pain. Naturopathic Doctors take a holistic approach by addressing the impact of nutrition, lifestyle, the environment, and the mind-body connection.

PHYSIOTHERAPY
Physiotherapists treat symptoms of illness, injury, aging, or disability through personalized therapeutic exercises. Treatment can improve movement and function, increase strength, and relieve pain. Physiotherapy is useful in maintaining strength and function as well as preventing future injury.

Donations

Because the clinic is run by volunteers, a small contribution of two to five dollars per appointment to help with our operating costs is appreciated.

Your donation can be left in the donation box at the front desk.

Notes for Referring Organizations or Individuals

By referring a person to our clinic, you are confirming that to the best of your knowledge, this person's income falls within our eligibility guidelines (see "Eligibility").

If you are a doctor referring a patient, since the patient's financial income isn't something you may know about, please ask your patient to bring proof of income to their first Saturday Free Clinic appointment.

If You Are Not Eligible

One excellent way to get massage therapy treatments at a reduced fee is ICT Northumberland College's teaching clinic. For $27.00 (HST included) you can receive a massage treatment in the teaching clinic from one of their personable and well-trained students. You can make an appointment at the Teaching Clinic by calling (902) 425-2869 ext 245. The college is located at 1888 Brunswick St. on the 5th Floor. Appointments will be for evening hours.

Consultation, Legal & Medical Reports

The practitioners at The Saturday Free Clinic are not available for pre-consultation, or to write an assessment or report for your doctor or lawyer.

Volunteers - You are needed!

The Saturday Free Clinic has a few different volunteer roles that are necessary for the clinic to run smoothly. We are looking for community volunteers who are enthusiastic, reliable, warm and respectful for the following roles:

• HOST
Assists practitioners and manages the clinic space (approximately 4 hours per clinic)

• RECEPTIONIST
Welcomes clients and manages files during the clinic (approximately 4 hours per clinic)

• CHEF'S ASSISTANT
Assists the chef with preparing lunch for clinic volunteers, including food preparation, meal set-up and clean-up (approximately 4 hours per clinic)

The benefits of being a Saturday Free Clinic volunteer include being involved in a positive community partnership and enjoying a free healthy vegetarian lunch with other volunteers and practitioners.

If you're interested in donating your time and energy in one of these positions - once every 2 weeks, once a month, or every couple of months - please get in touch with the clinic coordinators. You can email Catherine Slone (slonec@cdha.nshealth.ca) or Maya Williams (williamsmm@cdha.nshealth.ca) or call them at 473-5227. Detailed volunteer position descriptions are available upon request.

Hosting the Saturday Free Clinic

The Saturday Free Clinic is hosted by Connections, at 1221 Barrington St. near South St. in Halifax.

Connections is an opportunity centre – a community offering a safe and welcoming environment where people with mental health concerns work together. They create opportunities to increase their own and others’ skills, access support related to employment, education and housing, and develop lasting friendships. Members of Connections provide leadership in all its activities. Opportunities to share support with peers, and to explore, create and participate in wellness, recreational and creative arts events in the local community are key elements of membership.

Who are the practitioners at the Saturday Free Clinic?

DANIELLE BEZAIRE, R.M.T.

Danielle a Registered Massage Therapist and Childbirth Doula. Her current treatments incorporate Swedish Massage, Myofascial Release, Suikodo, Reflexology, Ayurvedic Massage and General Osteopathic Technique in an effort to achieve a balanced state of wellbeing for her clients.


ANDREW BILZ, Physical Therapist

Andrew graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Western Ontario in 2001. Since then he has taken various postgraduate courses with a special interest in holistic approaches, and pain education and management. In his practice he has emphasized combining hands-on treatment with education about pain, what postures/activities may be beneficial or aggravating, and simple corrective exercises. Andrew has worked in a few different hospital settings in Northern Ontario and British Columbia, and is currently working as a ‘Wellness Facilitator’ at the East Dartmouth Community Health Team, a new initiative with Capital Health. He is excited to be part of a program that is focused on inspiring and facilitating healthy life choices in a holistic way, and that makes his skills available to people who often ‘slip through the cracks’ of the more traditional system.

“I believe that the Saturday Free Clinic is another excellent way of providing for the important health care needs of community members who may not otherwise have opportunity. I am thrilled to be involved!”

ELIZABETH HEFFELFINGER, Acupuncturist

Elizabeth trained and practiced in California for 10 years before moving to Nova Scotia 4 years ago.
Elizabeth is the Vice-President of the Nova Scotia Association of Acupuncturists. She is involved in promoting acupuncture as an effective therapy and educating the public about this wonderful form of medicine.





JENN KING, R.M.T.

Jenn is a Registered Massage Therapist currently practicing in Halifax. She graduated from ICT Northumberland College in 2005. Her first year of practice was spent at a Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Clinic in Dublin, Ireland. She has since worked in a multi-disciplinary clinical setting in Halifax.

Jenn is able to combine additional training, such as Reiki, Deep Tissue Massage and Myofascial Release, to tailor each treatment to individual client needs. Whether a person is seeking a gentle relaxation-based experience, or a therapeutic approach, each treatment will aim to enhance the comfort level and overall sense of well-being. Jenn is a member of the Massage Therapists Association of Nova Scotia, and CPR/First Aid certified. Sharing her passion for massage therapy with each client brings her great joy.


JESSICA MARSH, R.M.T.

Jessica has been a massage therapist since 2000. In her massage treatments she uses a combination of neuromuscular, trigger point and myofascial release techniques, joint mobilizations and traditional Swedish massage. She graduated from Northumberland College’s massage therapy program where she went on to teach for three years. She has worked at The Halifax Osteopathic Health Centre and at Eastwind Health Associates. Jessica is registered with the Massage Therapists Association of Nova Scotia (MTANS) and the Canadian Massage Therapist Alliance (CMTA). She is also First Aid/CPR certified.

“I feel very lucky to be a part of the Saturday Free Clinic. I am blessed to have skills that are greatly needed and appreciated by the people who come to the Saturday Free Clinic. When the practitioners and volunteers sit together for lunch, I am moved by the collective spirit that joins us, the recognition that we are giving and helping, we are making positive change in the world.” - Jessica Marsh, RMT


GINA MERMELSTEIN, M.A., DHom (UK), (Homeopathic Medicine)

After completing an M.A. in Contemplative Psychotherapy and working as a therapist for many years, Gina's curiosity about how the mind and body are interrelated led her to homeopathy. She received her diploma from The School of Homeopathy in Devon, England in 1999, and has been in private practice since then in Halifax.

In her practice as a classical homeopath, Gina focusses on uncovering the patterns rooted in the mental and emotional level as well as how these are expressed in the physical symptoms of a patient. Through progressing inward, she explores the fixed perceptions and sensations that express the imbalanced state of illness. This leads to a homeopathic remedy that expresses the same pattern of imbalance. She has found success in helping people heal more deeply from chronic ailments that otherwise have only been palliated by conventional drugs. Her experience spans people of all ages, including many children, and also spans varying degrees of severity of illnesses.


SCHUYLER VROMANS, R.M.T.

Schuyler Vromans is a Registered Massage Therapist who graduated from ICT Northumberland College Massage Therapy Program with honors and the highest GPA. His therapeutic focus incorporates rehabilitation from injury, stress reduction, body awareness and self healing tools. Schuyler specializes in General Swedish Massage and Myofascial Release. He also is apt in Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Thai Yoga Massage, Suikodo, Sports Massage and has obtained Reiki level 2. Relying on a wide variety of techniques to treat each person individually and effectively it is his goal is to resolve the cause of dysfunction and facilitate healing. After experiencing the effectiveness of massage therapy first hand and having an interest in helping others, Schuyler undertook the journey in becoming a massage therapist. When Schuyler isn't treating he enjoys cooking, swimming, meditation, yoga, being by the ocean and in nature.


DR. ROCHELLE WILCOX, N.D. (Naturopathic Doctor)

Dr. Wilcox has always been interested in nutrition and health. Following the sickness of a close family member, her life’s path was chosen for her. She has forever had the desire to help those in need, starting her career in International Development studies and then towards nutrition (Canadian College of Natural Nutrition) and further to naturopathic medicine (Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine).

Dr. Wilcox believes in educating her patients to become active participants in their own path towards better health. She considers physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health when working with an individual and strives to inform her patients how to prevent and manage disease within their own lives.

Dr. Wilcox is really looking forward to volunteering at the clinic and is thankful to be given the opportunity to reach out to the community to offer her services!

Client Feedback

"I have greatly enjoyed my sessions at The Saturday Free Clinic. I find the people are very friendly and professional. I definitely recommend the clinic and I will tell my friends about it."
- Daniel

"I went in for my massage appointment all in knots and I left feeling totally relaxed."
- Susan

"Patients leave the Saturday Free Clinic feeling better than when they first come in. I see it in their smiling faces."
- Jennifer (volunteer) (Photograph by Sebastian O'Malley)

"I want to thank everyone who so generously volunteers their time and expertise to help low income families like us. My daughter and I would not have had the opportunity to experience the wonderful health benefits (as we have been able to at the free clinic) if it weren't for your kindness, so thank you very much. I hope even more professionals become involved with the clinic as you have made such a wonderful difference in our lives. Many blessings to you and the clinic."
- Donna