Bill and Bev Herriges: Why They Have Stood with Our Lady of Hope Since the Beginning
Bill and Bev Herriges have watched Our Lady of Hope Clinic grow from a new idea in 2006 into a Direct Primary Care clinic that families in Greater Madison actually use. They did not come looking for another doctor’s office. They came looking for a way to put their faith and their resources to work for people who delay care because they cannot afford it. Twenty years later, they are still members of this Middleton clinic and donors to its free healthcare for the uninsured.
What Drew Bill and Bev In
Like many people, Bill and Bev already had a doctor. What they did not have was a medical clinic that offered high-quality care and trusted medical opinions while providing a practical answer to the problem that many families living in poverty still face.
Bill had spent years in insurance; he knew that premiums and networks decide who gets seen. So, when Dr. Michael Kloess described a clinic that would not bill insurance and would welcome people regardless of income, Bill, along with everyone in the room, was surprised at how unique and yet practical the idea was.
“It was kind of a question that everybody started talking about,” Bill recalls. “How can you have a health insurance program without paying a premium?”
Bev and Bill understood how important this new Direct Primary Care model was. They explained that when a child runs a fever, the first thought for impoverished families is not “call the doctor.” It is “maybe if we wait it out, it will go away,” because the cost of a visit is overwhelming. That delay, Bev explained, has a serious trickle-down. Families who avoid getting the care they need end up combatting expensive emergencies instead of having treated the early stages.
The Impact Bill and Bev Saw
When Bill sat in on that first presentation in 2006, he saw the opportunity for his family and for the Madison area community. The model was simple. It was practical. And there were no other clinics in Wisconsin doing what Dr. Kloess wanted to do.
That model is now the everyday work of Our Lady of Hope Clinic on University Avenue in Middleton. Uninsured families receive appointments provided by volunteer doctors and covered by donors and the member patients who pay a small monthly membership for quality Direct Primary Care that is hard to find elsewhere.
When Bill and Bev became members, they also became donors. Bill wishes that people understood the arrangement the way that he does: “the membership is a small way for people to offer a contribution monthly. We don’t utilize the service on a monthly or yearly basis. We go there if we have an issue… But the monthly contribution gets you started. And once you can see the value that it is providing for other individuals, you may be able to step up on an annual or semiannual basis and make another contribution outside of the monthly premium.”
Direct access to a doctor’s email and phone number is a benefit they continue to come back to. Getting a response within a day is comforting. “With Dr. Mike, he’s got it all. He’s just so easy,” Bev says. Bill adds that if people ever got to know him, “they’d be in, I’m sure.”
They also noticed the practical details that tell you about the intentionality behind the clinic. “They’ve set up the clinic on a bus route,” Bill says. “So it’s easy access… They’re thinking about who needs free care and how you get there if you’re in need of free care.”
“It’s safe and it’s welcoming, and he gives you more time sometimes than you need,” Bev explains. “As long as you can get there, there shouldn’t be any reason you wouldn’t go if you’re a family.”
The Clinic is Growing, Thanks To the Support of Donors
As donors, Bill and Bev get to watch participation grow and the team to grow with it. “Because of the donations that are made available, there are more opportunities for people to come in and have a consultation or bring a child in who happens to be ill, to get some help at no cost to them,” Bill says. “And then at the same time, the clinic has grown, because they have an income to hire more staff, to provide more service to the people who are in need.”
When asked what motivated them to make your first donation to Our Lady of Hope Clinic, Bill answered “It was a no-brainer. Why would we not do this?”
If you are looking for Direct Primary Care in Middleton that offers better medical care, appointments that are scheduled within the month, direct access to your doctor, and a way to support free healthcare for uninsured families in Madison, all without the hassle of insurance—Our Lady of Hope Clinic is the place for you.
Or call (608) 819-8544, we would love to chat.
Comments