CONTACT
Ellen Paris
Kiner Communications
760-413-0471
(Indio, California—May 21 2010) Martha’s Village & Kitchen’s Medical Clinic treats both its residents and the area’s homeless population, resulting in reduced emergency room visits, better management of chronic conditions and early diagnosis of disease. All services are at no charge to the homeless community. Helen Carlson, PhD, Program Administrator of the Martha's Village & Kitchen Medical Clinic, notes, “Martha’s Village’s Medical Clinic is supported entirely by grants and donations. The care is provided by Board-certified physicians, and all medications are provided at no cost. We are a free primary-care clinic for the homeless and uninsured.”
Martha’s Village & Kitchen’s Medical Clinic saves millions of dollars for local hospitals and in dwindling state funds ear-marked for the uninsured. The numbers prove it: in 2009 the Medical Clinic served 2,094 individuals resulting in 6,700 office visits. Most likely these people would have utilized a local Emergency Room.
A conservative estimate of a basic urgent care visit (non-trauma) at an Emergency Room is a minimum of $300. This does not include; medications, X-Rays, laboratory testing, attending Emergency Room Physician or radiologist fees. All these patient services are handled at Martha’s Village and Kitchen’s Medical Center.
As a licensed dispensary 12,600 prescriptions were filled while 2,995 H1N1 vaccines were administered. It’s almost certain that a large percentage of those served at the Medical Clinic would have wound up at local ER facilities, costing the hospitals and the state heavily. The need for medical services has increased significantly. Between 2007 and 2009 there was a 102% increase in the number of patients and a 229% increase in patient visits at the Medical Clinic.
In addition to its medical services, the Medical Clinic held three vision clinics serving 779 people in 2009. Many patients were children in need of prescription glasses. In 2010 four vision clinics serving over 1,000 people will take place.
The Medical Clinic is run on a job-sharing basis by a husband and wife physician team, Dr. Krista Burris-Kim and Dr, Michael Kim. Both are well-credentialed. Dr. Burris-Kim, Medical Director, is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and has a Masters in International Public Health from John Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Michael Kim, Associate Medical Director, is Board Certified in Family Practice and board eligible in Psychiatry, an important specialty when treating the homeless. The Kims see almost three times the number of patients annually than a primary care physician does. “There is no other place for our patients to go if they are homeless and uninsured,” explains Dr. Burris-Kim. “It takes at least 45-60 days to even become eligible for county clinical programs,” she adds.
In addition to the typical medical problems the homeless population suffers, they face additional challenges like storing medications requiring refrigeration. Even simple antibiotics and eardrops for children need refrigeration. “The homeless have so many challenges to deal with when it comes to their health that you don’t even think about. For a diabetic on insulin you need a refrigerator. Homeless people don’t have them. They wind up simply not taking their meds. We store their meds for them and get them on a dispensing schedule so we can keep track of them getting proper dosages when they are supposed to,“ explains Dr. Burris- Kim. The Medical Clinic treats many patients with hypertension, cardiac conditions, diabetes, respiratory and pulmonary conditions and anxiety and depression.
Once again, Martha’s Village & Kitchen is making a major difference for the area’s homeless community.
About Martha’s Village & Kitchen: Founded in 1990, Martha's Village & Kitchen celebrates 20 years of making a difference this year as the largest provider of comprehensive homeless services in Riverside County. The continuum of care at Martha’s Village provides a place for people to reclaim their lives and break the cycle of homelessness. Programs include: Emergency Services such as food, clothing, infant supplies, utility, transportation & rent assistance; meals, emergency and transitional housing for single adults and families, counseling, training and education. Martha's Village also provides primary care medical services at the Clinic to the homeless uninsured within the community. Every dollar raised for Martha's Village stays in the Coachella Valley to serve neighbors in need.
|
