LEWISTON, Idaho — The Regence Foundation announced today a $129,000 grant to Family Medicine Residency of Idaho (FMRI) in support of its partnership with the Garden City Community Clinic (GCCC). The clinic is located in a medically underserved area of suburban Boise, and is open only two evenings per week.

p>As a result of The Regence Foundation grant, the clinic can increase its hours and treat more patients. It will also enable FMRI – the largest service provider for uninsured and underinsured in Ada County – to create additional family medicine positions for its residency program in Garden City.

“At The Regence Foundation, we believe that access to quality, affordable health care is the foundation for healthy communities,” said Michael Alexander, Regence Foundation board chair. “For many low income residents, the only place they can access affordable care locally is at the Garden City Community Clinic. That’s why it was so important for The Regence Foundation to provide financial support for FMRI’s innovative partnership with the clinic.”

Both FMRI and GCCC are dedicated to serving vulnerable, underserved and uninsured patients in Ada County, but neither organization alone was able to fully meet Garden City’s health care needs. The clinic had space but not enough medical staff, while FMRI had medical staff but not enough space. Their collaboration will provide a full-service medical home for low income individuals in Garden City.

In addition, by expanding the number of its family medicine residents working at the clinic, FMRI hopes more locally trained family physicians will stay to practice in their own communities.