News and Events

Outreach Clinic director wants to serve more

2011-08-26T11:18:00.003-04:00

Story and photo by DEREK MAUL | The Brandon News
Published: August 10, 2011

Deborah Meegan has been executive director at the Brandon Outreach Clinic for 10 years.

She has worked tirelessly to extend health care to the increasing number of Brandon residents who work hard and do their best, yet cannot afford medical services.

"When I started, we were open two half-days a week," Meegan said. "Today we see patients four days a week, all day long."

The numbers add up to about 210 appointments per month for primary care, plus referrals in the community, labs and case management.

"We're talking about 8,400 people a year," Meegan said. "We have close to 100 doctors who volunteer. Then, in addition, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians' assistants, pharmacists and lab techs."

With a 2011 budget of just $230,000, Meegan's team delivers significantly more than $2 million worth of health care. One recent accounting documented a value ratio of 11 to 1.

Yet Meegan reported the clinic will fall well short of budget in 2011 receipts.

"We're extremely frugal," she said, "and we take good care of our resources. But more people need care."

Born at Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle, Meegan lived wherever the Army sent her helicopter pilot dad.

She attended Pensacola College and then Florida State University, where she graduated in 1974 with a degree in social work. She interned in Tampa and was hired by the state in welfare eligibility.

"Then I worked in child support enforcement," Meegan said.

She discovered Brandon in 1979, lured by affordable housing and the unspoiled beauty. "I thought I'd moved to the end of the earth. Horse pastures, dairies, woods, parks, trees, cows — it had a very rustic appeal and was just beautiful."

The "unspoiled" part of the equation was short-lived. "As soon as I moved out here, oh my gosh!" she said. "The development leveled acres by the hundreds."

In 1984 Meegan was recruited by Brandon Regional Hospital to help secure funding for patients unable to navigate the various and confusing state and federal assistance programs.

"I was like a hero," she said. "People received care and the hospital got paid. Everyone was happy."

By 2001 Meegan had supplemented her unique skill set and love for helping people with a master's in business administration from the University of Phoenix. Taking the reins at the Brandon Outreach Clinic turned out to be the perfect next step.

The clinic, which has been serving Brandon's medically indigent for 22 years, has four distinct functions: determining eligibility, medical exams, the lab and the pharmacy.

"I think we have a stellar clinic," Meegan said. "It's just awesome in terms of what we're able to offer, and it's a wonderful team effort.

The facility, leased for $1 a year from Hillsborough County, is finishing up a major renovation made possible by funding, materials and labor donated by the Brandon Rotary Club.

While Meegan's great challenges are resources and visibility, her greatest joy is the enthusiastic cadre of faithful volunteers.

"Oh my gosh," she said. "I'm renewed every single day by their joyous service."

Along with the joy comes the pain, and Meegan's heart is broken by the knowledge that people suffer and die because they can't or don't know how to access medical care.

"I think of one woman with breast cancer," Meegan said. "By the time we saw her, the tumor weighed 34 pounds. She died and she didn't need to. It makes me cry."

Deborah and Michael Meegan started a blended family in 1989, and between them they have five young adult children.

She loves to travel, visit grandchildren, stay at the beach and entertain. But, above all, she is optimistic and full of faith.

"You have to be optimistic," Meegan said. "We only have today, this moment."

Ladies Night Out a Huge Success

2011-08-22T11:21:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday evening August 16, 2011, more than 500 ladies attended Ladies’s Night Out at Regency and enjoyed the hit movie THE HELP. This fun event hosted by the group known as Chicks for Charity sold out 2 movie theaters and raised over $8000 for the Brandon Outreach Clinic. The ladies were treated to delicious food provided by Tammy and Paul Holmberg’s Chick-Fil-A and popcorn and a drink provided by Regency theaters. The volunteer team from Khol’s sold raffle tickets for the more than 70 door prizes that were raffled off. A big thank you goes out to all the volunteers and the ladies who attended this incredible event to help raise money for the clinic. The much needed funds will be used to help pay for the medicine and medical care that our patients receive. Chicks for Charity really knows how to put the FUN in FUNraising!

Fundraiser for Clinic- Ladies Night Out

2011-08-03T16:08:00.002-04:00

Calling all Ladies “who just wanna have fun!!!!!”
It’s Ladies Night Out at the Movies
(Proceeds benefiting Brandon Outreach Clinic)

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The Movie will be "The Help"

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/dreamworks/thehelp/

Based on the #1 New York Times best-selling phenomenon, “The Help” is a provocative and inspiring look at what happens when a southern town’s unspoken code of rules is shattered by three courageous women who strike up an unlikely friendship.

AMC Regency 20 Theatres- Brandon
Doors open at 6:30pm (Only 300 tickets available- we’re hoping for a sell out!
Movie starts at 7:30pm
Tickets are $20p/p and include admission, dinner, drinks, popcorn and FUN.
Lot of Raffle Prizes and a 50/50 drawing
Proceeds to benefit "Brandon Outreach Clinic"
Tickets are available at Brandon Outreach Clinic and
Chick-fil-A Lake Brandon Village 11325 Causeway Blvd. Brandon
Bring your friends, your neighbors and your relatives for a fun filled evening with the Girls.
(If you received this email and you are a guy, please share with your wife or girlfriend so she does not miss out on this event).
See ya there!
Let me know if you need tickets and I will deliver them.

Deborah Meegan
Executive Director
Brandon Outreach Clinic
517 N Parsons Avenue
Brandon, Florida 33510
ph(813)654-1388
Fax (813)653-4155
Community Supported-Passion Driven

2010-03-09T13:57:00.001-05:00

Last year we gave out over 5000 medications.