The Virginian-Pilot
©
By Bill Bartel
The Virginian-Pilot
CHESAPEAKE
Chesapeake Care, one of the region's largest free medical clinics, is making plans to expand by about 30 percent because of increasing demand.
At a ceremony Friday announcing the expansion, clinic leaders and others pointed out that the fast-rising cost of health care is the root of the problem.
"A facility like this is a flaming indictment of a failed health care system in this country - the wealthiest in the world," said Dr. Juan Montero, who founded the clinic in 1992. "It's ironic. Americans are so giving. We help poor people all over the world, and here we are at this very time when so many Americans need this help. We cannot even help them."
Leaders of the non profit clinic, which operates with donations and volunteers, announced Friday that they've begun an effort to add 2,000 square feet to their building at 2145 S. Military Hwy., increasing its size to about 8,500 square feet.
With a staff of 16 full- and part-time employees and 275 volunteer doctors, nurse practitioners, dentists and other professionals, the clinic treated more than 2,100 people last year who could not afford care or qualify for Medicaid.
Clinic administrator Cathy Revell said the facility has an annual budget of $733,000. It has been able to provide an estimated $2.8 million in medical services because of its volunteers.
The clinic has been promised about $100,000 in donations for the expansion but will need about $500,000 to build and equip the new wing, clinic officials said.
U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Chesapeake, who has been a staunch opponent of proposals to overhaul health care - including adopting a government-provided insurance option - said the free clinic can be part of a better solution to providing health care to those who can't afford insurance.
Forbes said during the clinic's announcement that he agrees with Montero's suggestions that federal laws need to be changed to give tax breaks to doctors who volunteer at free clinics and to limit malpractice awards so physicians won't be wary of assisting the poor.
He also said the federal government should do more to support places such as Chesapeake Care.
"When we see things like this that are working... that are giving us four times the return, that makes sense," Forbes said.
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Actually, I suspect if one
Actually, I suspect if one of the opponents of health care reform were to actually be placed in the situation that millions of Americans face each year, they would have a different perspective on the effect of the problem with our private insurance based system. There really is little competition in most parts of the country, and that is why health care costs continue to escalate much faster than costs in any other industries. But many are really not opposed to health care reform; they are opposed to the President and his supporters actually implementing a promise that he made to the us, the citizens. These critics have been exhorted to do anything they can to defeat the President, so anything goes. False accusations, exaggerations, shouting down proponents at town hall meetings, everything goes to defeat the President. It is time for moderate citizens of all stripes to tell our Congressional representatives that we want this done, and done right, now.
So you're not blaming this
So you're not blaming this one on the Republican House of Delegates huh Mike? WOW that's a switch.
Symptom of a bigger problem
Healthcare is at a breaking point. Those of you who aren't independently wealthy and depend on having health insurance are in trouble. I pray that you never get catastrophically Ill. If you do get really ill, you will soon find your health insurance is inadequate to treat your illness (that's if your insurance covers it at all.) Medical costs are the number one reason for Bankruptcy. People are losing their homes in an attempt just to stay alive. The Next time your Employer has it's open enrollment period, read the books that come with each one of the choices, Pay Special attention to the Lifetime cap (MAXIMUM Benefit allowed) if you get seriously ill you will fly past that cap then lose your insurance then other insurance companies will deem you uninsurable. Why because they can't make a profit off you...why should they guarantee their stockholders get a loss just for you to stay alive...it's not the american way...capitalism prevails...you're dead...but capitalism prevails. Call 911 (the Government operated emergency call center) ask for help, (get a Government Funded ambulance), Get trained qualified Firefighters/paramedics (trained through Government funds) Who Follow
Medical protocol (based on
Medical protocol (based on Government Standards). Don't like Government Healthcare...BOYCOTT 911!
Free clinics help but they are not the answer to this crisis
Thank God for the Chesapeake Free Clinic and all the volunteers and medical personnel that contribute to it. However, if you think free clinics are the sole answer to the indigent medical care/health care crisis you are in deep deep denial. If you think waiting weeks, sometimes months to GET ON A LIST to schedule an appointment is a suitable delivery of medical care then you are seriously living on another planet. I have sent people to the Chesapeake Free Clinic and they are wonderful people, deliver excellent care but they are overloaded with the sheer volume of people needing help. They can only do so much & they do a fantastic job with their resources BUT it is everyone's right to have access to emergency care and the myriad of medical issues that can arise at moments notice. Congressman Forbes should walk in the shoes of people using free clinics and he'll come away with a different & more accurate perspective. I've noticed it's the Republicans that have the least amount of altruism, compassion and respect for those that are economically disadvantaged. Want to change the world? Do something about POVERTY, it's at the root of 90% of our societies problems. Like it or not, w
I Disagree
First off I wish I could go to another planet to get away from liberals. Second, I said the free clinic was ONE(1) of the ways to give people health care. Third, You say that waiting weeks and months for a medical appt. is not good but that is what Obama care will give you. Fourth, yes liberals are more compassionate than republicans......as long as it is republican money they are giving away. Last or maybe not, poverty is not 90% of our socities problem- - - LIBERALISM IS. OH, by the way it is not everyone's right to have access to emergency care(although they do). Example: I have a twenty something year old male relative who will not work and has no health care plan who has been to the emergency room 6 days out of the last 12 and not once has he been denied treatment. You want to know why he lives this way? Because people on the left let him. Guess he ran out of painkillers. You people on the left make me sick.
Not the Federal Government's business
It is not the Federal Government's job to be involved in healthcare provision. Period. Read the Constitution. We are the most giving nation on earth and if we were not taxed to death, we would have even more money to give to these types of clinics...without the Feds being in control.
I've read the
I've read the constitution...it doesn't say a lot of things that the Federal Government actually does. In the Preamble of the Constitution
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Let us Dwell on "GENERAL WELFARE" for just a moment...Kinda of broad don't ya think. I think the General Welfare of the People of the United States might just include access to healthcare.
Well said!
"It's ironic. Americans are so giving. We help poor people all over the world, and here we are at this very time when so many Americans need this help."
Exactly.....we watch the Celebs with tears in their eyes BEGGING for Americans to give, give, and give, to other Countries ALL over the World.
Seldom do we see these same Celebs HERE in the U.S. begging for money & medical assistance for citizens in their own country...the USA.
It's like....help your neighbor, but not your Mother?
WHAT!!!!!
I didn't know people could get health care without the great one's(Obama) help! Thank you Pilot for showing one of the lies behind the Obamaites argument that we need their worthless health care reform. The only reform we need is for people to be responsible for themselves and those they carelessly produce during their recreational activities. Please don't respond to me in your posts liberals because I'm signing off for the night. Get a life. Enough Already!