Free clinic taking care of Park City
If you think the economic downturn hasn't made it to an area where two-bedroom condos are priced at $1 million, think again.
Proof of that is the demand on the free clinic that is currently housed in a recently abandoned hardware store in the center of town. In October, clinic director Cecily Huff Smith reports, there were 495 patient visits, an all-time monthly high. For the year, 4,300 patient visits are projected, another all-time high.
And it's not just members of the Hispanic population and other minorities who change the beds and wash the dishes at the local ski resorts who are beating a path to the clinic's entrance.
"We are seeing an increase in patients from all areas," said Huff-Smith. "In one day last week we saw five Caucasian men who had lost their insurance recently. Either they'd opted out because the premiums were too high or they'd lost their jobs. We're seeing more of that than ever before."
What these new customers are discovering is a health-care oasis with a rather unlikely address. In 1999, the People's Health Clinic was established by a handful of local medical providers who realized that even in a high-end resort community, everyone doesn't have health insurance but everyone still needs health care.
John Hanrahan, a local physician and executive director of the clinic, is one of those founders. "We started with a mobile clinic and we were fairly limited in the patients we could help," he says, remembering the van that once served as the clinic's headquarters. "I don't think any of us realized how successful it would become in terms of taking care of people without health insurance."
Almost 10 years later, a steady stream of nurses, doctors and other health-care providers habitually volunteer their services three days every week (the clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) alongside a skeleton crew of paid administrators.
The clinic has a strict "Don't Ask" policy when it comes to the insurance question.
"If someone comes in and says they don't have health insurance, we treat them, period," says Huff-Smith. "We don't ask any questions."
Patients are encouraged to pay a donation of at least $15 for each visit. But if they can't afford that, they're still admitted.
The result, as Hanrahan points out, is pervasive good health.
"As a community we're healthier because of this," he says. "There's a huge public benefit for restaurants, the ski industry, you name it, to keep their employees healthy. It saves us all a lot of money."
Comments
- World datelines 10:27 p.m.
- Honduras rejects OAS appeal 10:27 p.m.
- Russia to allow U.S. arms shipments 10:26 p.m.
- NKorea fired 2 missiles, South says 10:25 p.m.
- Marines push into Taliban areas 10:24 p.m.
- British Embassy staff to be tried 10:22 p.m.
- Nicklaus shows off new Utah course 10:07 p.m.
- Murder suspect ruled incompetent 10:04 p.m.
- National news briefs 9:58 p.m.
- Marriage: the anti-Alzheimer's? 9:55 p.m.
- Harpring unsure about his future
- U. quarterback set to take his place
- Lack of Obama photos concerning
- Y. gets verbal from cornerback
- Palin resigning as governor
- Millsap's potential suitor list smaller
- Utah to host $1.9B NSA spy center
- Pratt and patriotic betrayal
- Independence Day activities
- Price hopes to remain in Utah
- Boozer not opting out of contract
180 - Letters: Stop anti-Obama letters
109 - Lack of Obama photos concerning
94 - Palin resigning as governor
94 - Korver stays; what about others?
91 - Utah leaner in too-fat country
90 - Editorial: A sad day for Utah
85 - Jazz plan to re-sign Millsap
81 - Letters: Obama no Marxist
77 - Don't listen to marriage cynics
71
That is impressive, Utah has only won 15 games against BYU since I have been...
CO2 has increased. Yet the people and the plants are thriving. I guess...
We have a nutcake who calls McCain a liberal. Twenty-seven-percent of...
green derby: TDS is "Team Down South"
It looks like a beautiful course. To bad it is private. I'd love to play...
Championship. The Jazz run a offensive system. Each player has a role in...
Corroon has done a number of good, and thoroughly unexpected things, for a...
Beattie is a squishy Republican who loves power and making deals. Typical...
WHat made me the maddest was when they had a keynote on lincoln. COME ON...
No Matter what personal opinions or judgments on another man may be the...
You can be the first to comment on this story.