In-House Lab Removes Barriers to Follow-up Care for Uninsured Lander Residents

In Lander, the Free Medical Clinic serves approximately 300 uninsured residents, but patients often struggle to complete necessary follow-up lab work because it requires a second appointment, typically at a different clinic or hospital. That means more time off work as well as finding transportation to the hospital or clinic. Many patients lack the capacity or resources to do so, leaving healthcare providers unable to prescribe medications or adjust treatment plans. When the clinic’s patient care coordinator recognized this critical barrier to care—particularly as the clinic prepared to launch free community education classes for chronic conditions—she reached out to LOR with a plan to establish an on-site laboratory. The in-house lab will allow providers to order blood work during patient visits and education classes, with results available immediately to inform treatment decisions. Patients will no longer need multiple trips or appointments, dramatically improving compliance rates and health outcomes for Lander’s most vulnerable residents. LOR’s funding will help purchase CLIA-certified testing equipment including hematology analyzers, supplies, and phlebotomy certification for two staff members.