Confronting America's Health Care Crisis

Misconceptions About This Type of Clinic: Dispelling the Myth

Health Care Leadership and Misconceptions about Clinics

Health care reform is a topic many want to address. However, few have implemented viable solutions for the growing epidemic of the medically uninsured. Being without health insurance instills fear in many people. It has become a personal assault that an ever-increasing number of Americans face, which forces them to choose between paying for medical care and buying food to feed their families. For many, an acute or chronic medical crisis finds them without a medical home for care. There are many Americans who have experienced the uncertainty of not knowing where to turn if a serious illness occurs, or if routine health care is needed, fear the “what ifs?” If I become ill, where will I receive care? Many of these feelings are experienced on a daily basis as individuals feel the despair of watching a family member or friend have no option but to turn to the hospital emergency room. Too many people, having forfeited nearly everything in the pursuit of health care, have lost all hope of leading normal lives.  They are constantly in fear of the bill collector or of having wages garnished.

I am reminded of the inspirational Biblical phrase: “For those who have been given much, much is expected” [Luke 12:48]. When I opened the clinic, I knew the journey would be difficult. I knew there would be challenges; however, I never expected that in such an affluent community, with so many of privilege, there would be so little support for my small part of the solution to the growing problem of those without health care. For many of my patients, the clinic was the beginning of hope and an answer to the exorbitant cost of health care. I knew my cause was larger than myself. I was not willing to ignore what I know is a sensible solution to a growing epidemic — those in my community without health insurance. I just needed a forum to awaken the consciousness of the community.

A few years ago, I wrote an article for a local newspaper in the hopes of stimulating awareness of the growing epidemic of those without health insurance. The purpose of the article was to awaken the spirit of those who have health insurance with the intent that those who have been given much would give to those less fortunate. I was discouraged by the lack of response from readers who had the wherewithal to support the efforts of the clinic. At that time, I had far exceeded my own personal challenge and surprised many in the community as the clinic entered its fourth year of operation. My patient numbers clearly demonstrated a need for the clinic, and the high percentage of patients who considered the clinic their medical home was greater than even I had imagined. I developed one workable solution to our growing epidemic of the medically uninsured. However, it requires more than one article or one person to awaken the altruistic spirit and conscience of the community and to make its residents see what seems so clear to me.

The clinic is a small business and, as such, I am not privileged to receive grant money or city, state, or federal funds. I built the clinic out of my private funds, and I continue to offer health care for the working poor. I am not unique solely because I provide care for those less fortunate. Many medical practitioners do this. I believe I am different because I am a sole provider who chooses not to work with insurance companies as a means to keep the cost of an office visit to a minimum. I have developed partnerships with outside agencies to offer laboratory and imaging at discounted rates. In essence, these discounted prices allow patients to receive ordered laboratory and imaging within their budgets. (See Appendix: Queen Street Clinic Price Menu.)

The clinic also serves as a champion for many patients who might not be able to afford their medications by enrolling them in patient assistance programs with various pharmaceutical companies. I am also very fortunate to develop working relationships with many specialty physicians who support my family practice efforts and to whom I can refer my patients for specialty care. The last piece of the puzzle that makes the whole concept of the clinic’s mission possible is the assistance I receive from local churches, which frequently, on an individual basis, assists patients who need medical care but cannot afford it.

I have learned that the concept of the word “clinic” denotes the idea that it is free. When I think about the clinic, I think of openness, fairness, equitable care, and — of course — medical care at a reasonable cost. The care that is provided is safe, excellent, and prudent in its delivery. Frequently, I have spent much of my day, as well as the clinic staffs’ time, trying to educate my patient population and the community that the concept of “clinic” does not connote it is “free” care.