Ithaca Health Alliance
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The Ithaca Health Alliance was founded in 1997 by activist and 'social entrepreneur' Paul Glover. Glover, then living in Ithaca, launched the Ithaca Health Fund, a health care cooperative run by and for its members. The Ithaca Health Fund (IHF) [1] is now a part of the broader Ithaca Health Alliance (IHA) organization.
The Ithaca Health Alliance established the IHF to facilitate access to health care and increase wellness the surrounding communities. IHA General Members are eligible for grants and interest free loans to help with specific health care expenses including preventative care, certain emergency procedures, and dental care[1].
Launched in January 2006, the Ithaca Free Clinic is one of the Ithaca Health Alliance's major projects. The Ithaca Free Clinic offers free integrative health and wellness services to its members. The services combine alternative and mainstream medicines[2]. The clinic's services are provided by a volunteer staff of doctors, herbalists, acupuncturists, massage therapists and other health care practitioners. Other programs of the IFC include a health resource library, as well as nutritional and educational programs.
IHA operations feature transparency in finances and decision making. IHA makes available to its members complete lists of grants approved, applications rejected, and annual financial summaries and quarterly financial reports available online[3]. The Board of Directors is elected by a direct vote of IHA's membership.
IHA itself is part of a wider health democracy movement [2] in which Paul Glover is a leader and advocate[citation needed]. In 2006, Glover published the book Health Democracy which has received the support of prominent figures such as Hazel Henderson and Patch Adams [3].
