Two clinics promise treatment, regardless of income
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SEATTLE -- With the recent economic slump, the number of people using hospital emergency rooms for treatment has jumped as much as 30 percent. More people are out of work and with no health insurance, they use the ER to replace their family doctor.
But for many, there's an alternative where lack of insurance in not an obstacle. And patients who know about it are traveling miles out of their way to get a local primary care physician they can see on a regular basis, without having to worry about getting turned down over money.
One couple taking advantage is Deborah Spear and her fiance Darion Mallard.
After Deborah's recent stroke, they didn't have to worry about finding a doctor to follow up with Deborah's care, thanks to the Country Doctor Community Clinic.
"We don't deny services to anybody, based on their inability to pay," said Dr. Rich Kovar, medical director at the clinic -- one of two unique clinics in Seattle.
The clinics have one mission: Provide quality health care without regard to the patient's ability to pay the bill. Patients are billed on a sliding scale, with a co-pay based on documented annual income.
"Many of our patients go on and off insurance but they still can come here and not be treated any differently," Kovar said.
The goal is primary care and prevention. Patients can choose the clinic doctor they want to see, and they stick with the same doctor - just like other facilities.
As with other offices, Spears and Mallard will be billed based on where they fall on the sliding income scale.
"They do receive a bill," stressed Kovar. "We ask people to pay their co-pays if they do have insurance, but no one is ever sent to collection from our organization."
It's a community safety net many people don't even know exists.
"We come from Auburn to come here," said Mallard.
Against many odds, the Country Doctor has offered this safety net for 38 years to patients who can't afford the health care they need.
The clinic gets funding from federal, county and city grants, United Way donations, patient insurance and co-pays, and private donations.
Dr. Kovar says because of a decrease in funding and an increase in patient load, they'll likely have to reduce some services but the mission will not change: quality primary health care regardless of your ability to pay.
The Country Doctor has a second site in Seattle called the Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center.
For more information:
www.countrydoctor.org
But for many, there's an alternative where lack of insurance in not an obstacle. And patients who know about it are traveling miles out of their way to get a local primary care physician they can see on a regular basis, without having to worry about getting turned down over money.
One couple taking advantage is Deborah Spear and her fiance Darion Mallard.
After Deborah's recent stroke, they didn't have to worry about finding a doctor to follow up with Deborah's care, thanks to the Country Doctor Community Clinic.
"We don't deny services to anybody, based on their inability to pay," said Dr. Rich Kovar, medical director at the clinic -- one of two unique clinics in Seattle.
The clinics have one mission: Provide quality health care without regard to the patient's ability to pay the bill. Patients are billed on a sliding scale, with a co-pay based on documented annual income.
"Many of our patients go on and off insurance but they still can come here and not be treated any differently," Kovar said.
The goal is primary care and prevention. Patients can choose the clinic doctor they want to see, and they stick with the same doctor - just like other facilities.
As with other offices, Spears and Mallard will be billed based on where they fall on the sliding income scale.
"They do receive a bill," stressed Kovar. "We ask people to pay their co-pays if they do have insurance, but no one is ever sent to collection from our organization."
It's a community safety net many people don't even know exists.
"We come from Auburn to come here," said Mallard.
Against many odds, the Country Doctor has offered this safety net for 38 years to patients who can't afford the health care they need.
The clinic gets funding from federal, county and city grants, United Way donations, patient insurance and co-pays, and private donations.
Dr. Kovar says because of a decrease in funding and an increase in patient load, they'll likely have to reduce some services but the mission will not change: quality primary health care regardless of your ability to pay.
The Country Doctor has a second site in Seattle called the Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center.
For more information:
www.countrydoctor.org
