Medical Services
Healthcare is often neglected when our income can barely cover our bills. In Monroe County, Tennessee, there are several resources to alleviate this problem and provide quality care if you are unable to afford insurance or if your coverage isn't comprehensive. Please review the list of resources below and consider contacting some of them to determine your eligibility so your health needs can be addressed.
Monroe County Health Council
- Nutrition & Fitness
- Monroe On the Move – A local component of the larger Healthier TN Initiative- We are working in conjunction with the Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness, a nonprofit, 501 (c) (3), a corporation dedicated to enabling and encouraging Tennesseans to lead healthier lives. Together with our community partners, businesses, and places of worship we are making Monroe County a healthier community by encouraging citizens to eat better, move more, and avoid tobacco. Activities under this initiative are funded by Monroe County United Way. Monroe on the Move Fitness Classes are free fitness classes offered at five (5) schools within Monroe County and Sweetwater City school system, taught by certified fitness instructors. Classes are either before or after school (depending on the school) and are open to any student in that school. This program impacts up to 400+ students a week.
- Monroe In Motion Camp – As a part of the Monroe on the Move program, there are also three (3) weeks of free summer fitness camp in two (2) locations for youth in 2nd-6th grade. Thanks to the summer feeding program all food for the campers is free as well.
- Monroe on the Move Fitness Expo – Monroe of the Move is our initiative for the Governor’s Healthier Tennessee project. The emphasis of the annual fitness expo is to highlight and share the health and fitness opportunities and businesses within the county and surrounding areas.
- Access to Healthcare
- Remote Area Medical Clinic – Free, high-quality vision, dental, and medical services are provided to children and individuals who don’t have access or can’t afford a visit to a doctor. Services are provided by local volunteer medical professionals, dentists, dental hygienists, optometrists, and other community members willing to assist with the provision of services. Monroe County Health Council coordinates and ensures this program is made possible, in conjunction with the Remote Area Medical team.
- Cancer Fund for Monroe County – Monetary assistance is provided to hundreds of Monroe County residents who are receiving cancer treatments to assist with transportation and other associated expenditures. Funds are given to qualified applicants whose doctors have signed offon their application for assistance, at a maximum of one time per year. The funds for this program are generated through donations, fundraisers, and United Way funds.
- Domestic Violence Advocacy & Support
- Monroe STOP – A federally funded program that serves victims of domestic violence through court advocacy, crisis counseling, resource accessibility, safety planning, support group, prevention education, and partnerships with local victim serving and health care agencies that assist to provide the services necessary for those cases that require specialized intense services.
- RAD – Rape Aggression Defense Classes are facilitated to offer women viable options of self-defense with the priority of risk avoidance. There are two certified instructors on the Monroe County Health Council’s staffthat provide classes to women and girls of all ages upon request.
- Drug Endangered Children Task Force – A coordinated collaborative response team composed of many community agencies who serve children in some capacity including DCS, CASA Monroe, Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, Sweetwater Hospital Association, Monroe County Juvenile Courts, and many others. Meetings are held regularly to discuss the drug trends, available resources for those affected by substance use (directly & indirectly), and community needs.
- Education & Support Groups – Quarterly education and awareness programming is made available by VOCA federal funding and is facilitated by the Monroe STOPe Staff. These programs include training opportunities for service agencies and organizations, local and national community awareness campaigns, victims’ rights events, memorial tributes, and school-based programming.
- Substance Abuse & Crime Prevention
- Monroe County Prevention and Wellness Coalition (PWC) originated as the Monroe County Alcohol and Drug Task Force and has since joined the Monroe County Health Council, forming the Prevention Coalition. Although the two coincide in many efforts, the PWC meets separately from the Health Council on a monthly basis and is composed of a board of representatives that are individuals from various sectors of our communities and population. Board members assist with the planning and facilitation of coalition efforts to institute community change through strategic planning and the implementation of education and programming. The coalition is part of the Communities Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and has successfully completed the National Coalition Institute Academy.
- PWC programming is funded by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
- SADD Clubs – Students Against Destructive Decisions is a nationally known, active organization that equips teenagers across the country with the tools they need to resist temptation as a result of their knowledge and positive peer pressure. Students meet at 6 schools in our county and unite monthly as the Youth Coalition to discuss various local issues that need to be addressed. These students are trained locally, at the state, & the national level on primary prevention, leadership, and stategic planning among other evidence-based topics of discussion necessary to initiate positive impact. SADD Clubs are made possible through collaboration of the PWC & MCHC with funding from donors, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, and the John D. Grubb & Louise G. Sumner Fund for Monroe County, an affiliate of East Tennessee Foundation.
- Drop Box Campaigns – Rx Drug Abuse-The Prevention Coalition was able to provide drop boxes in the local police departments and sheriff’s department for easy drug disposal. This program encourages individuals to get rid of leftover drugs (or misused prescriptions) by disposing of them properly and anonymously, in turn preventing drugs from being flushed or improperly disposed of. At least twice a year, the drugs are collected and incinerated.
- Count It. Lock It. Drop It. – A national initiative encouraging individuals to count their prescriptions on weekly basis, keep them locked away at all times, and dispose of any unused medication properly. We promote the initiative locally in conjunction with our Drop Box RX Campaign and national Drug Take-Back Days.
- Tobacco: Think Twice – A student-led SADD Club program that is a composition of three tobacco cessation and education programs. SADD Club members were educated and trained to provide accurate information about the dangers of tobacco use in all forms. The program is made available in the form of a video and is presented either by the students themselves or a SADD Club facilitator to schools and local youth-serving agencies.
- Prevention Points Newsletter – A quarterly newsletter that includes local stories and local students, and is intended to educate caregivers of what’s happening locally, trends (both good and bad), and how to live healthy lives through being active and eating well.
- NAS Prevention Programming – The Prevention Coalition has partnerships with the Monroe County Health Department, Sweetwater Hospital Association, and other health care agencies that work with at-risk mothers and/or dependent infants. This partnership encourages interagency communications and education, ensuring best practices are being implemented across the county for NAS babies.
- Rodeo – In partnership with the local H & M Rodeo group, the Monroe County Championship Rodeo is presented as a safe and alternative activity for youth. During this event, SADD Club members distribute tobacco cessation and other educational materials to encourage healthy decision making and abstinence from substance use
The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics provides free and low-cost medical care to those in need. They provide this care to uninsured and underinsured patients. There are three clinics that are part of this association in the local area. They are listed below.
- Good Faith Clinic
- Address: 18 Congress Parkway, Athens TN, 37303
- Phone: (423)-745-4541
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/goodfaithclinic/
- Service(s) provided: Medical
- Good Samaritan Center of Loudon
- Address: 505 Mulberry Street, Loudon TN, 37774
- Phone: (865)-986-1777
- Website: https://www.goodsamloudoncounty.org
- Service(s) provided: Dental
- Good Samaritan Center of Lenoir City
- Address: 119 A Street, Lenoir City TN, 37771
- Phone: 865-459-5541
- Website: https://www.goodsamloudoncounty.org
- Service(s) provided: Dental
Monroe County Health Department
This clinic operates under a sliding scale of fees based on income model. This means that it may not be free depending on your income. You will be required to prove financial need in order to receive free services or services at a reduced cost.
This is a health care center funded by the federal government. This means even if you have no insurance, you can be covered. The center is also income based for those making an income.
This health center can cover services such as checkups, treatment, pregnancy care (where applicable), immunizations and child care (where applicable), prescription medicine and mental and substance abuse where applicable.
Some documentation is required to receive services at the Health Department. Please review the following requirements:
This is a health care center funded by the federal government. This means even if you have no insurance, you can be covered. The center is also income based for those making an income.
This health center can cover services such as checkups, treatment, pregnancy care (where applicable), immunizations and child care (where applicable), prescription medicine and mental and substance abuse where applicable.
Some documentation is required to receive services at the Health Department. Please review the following requirements:
- Photo identification: something that has the patient’s name and photo, which can be a driver’s license, passport, school ID, work ID, state ID, etc.
- Proof of county residency: documentation that shows the patient lives in the county served, which can be a driver’s license, lease, or piece of “official” mail to a county residence.
- Proof of household income: if patient is working, then one month worth of pay stubs; if patient is collecting unemployment or social security or food stamps, then proof of income either by statement from bank or government agency.
School-based Clinics
School-based clinics are exactly what they sound like - clinics located directly within the Monroe County schools. Through our unique partnership with the school system, we're able to help provide high quality professional, affordable, and comprehensive medical services to students and school staff. These clinics have many benefits, including:
The list below contains the contact numbers for each school that offers these services.
- Promoting healthy lifestyle choices and empowering youth to take responsibility for their health and healthcare.
- Reducing barriers to healthcare by being conveniently located in schools during the day so parents don’t have to take time off from work.
- Promoting and supporting academic success.
The list below contains the contact numbers for each school that offers these services.
- Madisonville Middle School - (423) 442-4137
- Sequoyah High School School-based (Madisonville) - (423) 442-9230
- Sweetwater High School - (423) 337-7881
- Tellico Plains High School - (423) 253-2530
- Tellico Plains Elementary School - (423) 253-2626
- Vonore Elementary School - (423) 884-6485
- Vonore Middle School - (423) 884-2730