News
CONTACT:
Our Lady of Hope Clinic Communications: 608-445-2063
sjkarlen@ourladyofhopeclinic.com
www.ourladyofhopeclinic.org
Our Lady of Hope Clinic to Provide Free Outpatient Medical Care to Uninsured Community beginning June 1
Our Lady of Hope Clinic is set to begin providing outpatient medical care to the uninsured community free of charge beginning Monday, June 1. Individuals who lack health coverage and do not qualify for government programs (such as BadgerCare Plus or Medicaid) are eligible.
Appointments will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Patients seeking treatment can arrive at the clinic (6425 Odana Road) at 8:00 a.m. to schedule a morning appointment or 1 p.m. to schedule an afternoon visit.
Physicians Michael Kloess and Anne Volk Johnson have been working for more than a year to establish Our Lady of Hope Clinic as a resource for uninsured families and individuals. With a slumping economy, they say the need for such a clinic is more apparent than ever.
"In 2007, about 1 in 10 state residents went at least some duration of time without health insurance," Johnson said. "And that was with a relatively strong economy. When the 2008 data are released, we expect the numbers to look significantly worse."
The numbers are significantly worse for the Hispanic community, where approximately one in every three residents lacks health coverage at some point each year. Johnson (who is fluent in Spanish) and Kloess hope to help bridge that gap.
While Our Lady of Hope Clinic will provide a broad range of primary care health services, Kloess said the focus is on preventative care. "As physicians, we find that many uninsured patients simply can’t afford to treat chronic conditions like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes," he said. "And all too often, these patients end up in the emergency room with a stroke or a heart attack because they were unable to manage their condition early on."
These free services will be funded by benefactors. Benefactors contribute at a level that qualifies them to receive concierge-style primary care. Benefactors receive same-day scheduling, extended appointment times, and can contact their personal physician by phone or email 24 hours a day. To guarantee such personalized care, each doctor will limit the number of benefactors accepted. When the clinic reaches its goal of 300 benefactors per provider, Kloess and Johnson will provide more than 3,000 free visits per year, making Our Lady of Hope Clinic the area's first full-time free primary care clinic.
"The modest benefactor fee doesn't just provide unparalleled primary care," Kloess said. "It allows us to address the health care crisis head on, providing the potentially life-saving compassionate care that would otherwise be out of reach for uninsured families. It’s a win-win."
Please contact Steve Karlen at 608-445-2063 with questions or for additional information.
