Compassionate Healthcare for People in Need
Crossover Healthcare provides a variety of healthcare services to people in need in the Richmond area. With the Reach Out and Read program, a doctor reads a book with a child while conducting a medical assessment. People in need of healthcare in the Richmond area have an advocate in CrossOver Healthcare Ministry. Founded in 1983, CrossOver provides care to more than 6,500 low-income, uninsured, and medically underserved individuals each year at its two locations in Richmond and Henrico. Julie Bilodeau, CrossOver CEO, has been with the organization since 2003. “In the beginning, CrossOver furnished free legal assistance and provided help with rent and heating bills, clothing, and medical care to individuals and families in need,” Julie says. “Over the years, it was evident that the key need was healthcare for people who did not have health insurance and could not afford to go to a doctor or dentist.”
CrossOver has added services as needs grew, including an upcoming expansion and relocation of their Community Pharmacy, which provides more than 32,000 prescriptions annually to CrossOver clients and clients of other local safety net clinics. “Our pediatrics program has also grown, and we’ve launched ‘Reach Out and Read,’” Julie explains. “Pediatricians read a book with the child they are seeing. As they go through the book, they do a clinical assessment, and the child gets to take the book home with them at the end of the visit.”
Recently, the OB/GYN program expanded to serve more than 400 pregnant women annually, a 51% increase over the prior year. The HIV program has also relocated and grown to serve more people with HIV/AIDS treatment and testing. CrossOver also offers mental health counseling, dental, eye care, and primary and specialty care.
Eye exams are one of the many services that CrossOver Ministry provides.
Dedicated healthcare professionals volunteer their time to provide medical services to those in need.For many years, the organization has recognized that medical care is the “foot in the door” to assessing other life needs of those who come to CrossOver. The case management team helps patients who need support with affordable housing, food insecurity, unemployment or underemployment, and legal issues, as well as understanding how to navigate a variety of government systems.
TowneBank is honored to be a longtime supporter of CrossOver and recently made a gift to support the organization’s purchase and renovation of their Henrico Clinic and renovation of their Richmond Clinic. CrossOver became a TowneBank member through Duncan Owen, senior vice president and commercial banker, who serves on the board. “Until I started volunteering with CrossOver, I had no idea how many people in our Richmond community were not eligible for health insurance of any kind,” Duncan says. “CrossOver serves as a refuge for so many folks. It is so rewarding to work with an organization that makes a meaningful impact every day.”
Julie describes how that impact came home to her recently. “The employee who checks your items as you exit BJ’s saw CrossOver’s name on my card and said to me, ‘I just love CrossOver! My husband had a stroke and you saved his life. He continues to get care at CrossOver.’”
CrossOver relies on volunteers, including healthcare professionals, clinicians, nurses, and office workers, as well as people who speak Spanish and can serve as interpreters. To learn more and see how you can help, visit CrossOverMinistry.org.