Health Connection
Dirne Community Health Center (DCHC) is teaming up with Lake City Community Church to hold “Health Connection,” a one-day community outreach for those struggling with access to medical care due to limited resources.
Health Connection will be held on Saturday, August 14th, from 8a.m. till 5p.m., at the Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy. |
This free health clinic will offer a range of primary care services and medical testing, but it is only one day. One day is not enough to treat chronic disease like diabetes, but it is enough to connect uninsured diabetics to the care they need. The goal of Health Connections is to educate those who need medical care on where to go and what to do the other 364 days of the year.
Volunteers are the heart and soul of every free clinic. The success of Health Connections depends greatly on you and your willingness to volunteer. Medical volunteers are needed, including doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and emergency medical. Non-medical volunteers are also needed to help with documentation, logistical support, patient intake and translation, as well as patient greeters and escorts.
DCHC exists to provide a quality medical home to people in Kootenai County and surrounding areas regardless of their ability to pay. The need is great. Right now an estimated 18,000–25,000 people in Kootenai County are uninsured. In 2009 DCHC served more than 8,000 patients, a 17 percent increase from the previous year. DCHC is also seeing an increase in the number of seniors who are unable to find medical care because a growing number of providers in the community are not accepting new Medicare patients. While DCHC has restructured to offer same day acute care services, the average time it takes for a patient to establish care is still 30-60 days. With just two full time physicians, the need continues to exceed the services they can provide. Health Connections is an opportunity to get those on the DCHC’s waiting list seen and connected into the healthcare system.
