#CommuniCare Health Centers expanding across San Antonio

Communicare_logo side in colorPotranco Clinic FINALCommuniCare Health Centers, a non-profit healthcare organization, recently opened up its newest Pediatric clinic in the Sea World area of San Antonio. The campus, CommuniCare Health Centers-Potranco Pediatrics, located at 9594 Potranco Road, will provide pediatric care services to children in that area. Dr. Josue Molina is the Pediatrician at this location.

Madison Square Bldg_edit2In September, CommuniCare Health Centers will also be expanding into the downtown San Antonio area, in partnership with Baptist Medical Center. The clinic will be located in the Madison Square Building on Camden St., and will provide family medicine, pediatric and urgent care services.

“CommuniCare is excited to grow our services and strengthen our partnership with Baptist Medical Center. In this partnership, CommuniCare Health Centers will provide primary and urgent care services to individuals with non-emergent conditions for their care versus going to the Emergency Room. As well as being a medical home for those patients being discharged from the hospital that do not have an established primary care provider for their follow up care,” said Paul Nguyen, President and CEO of CommuniCare Health Centers.

About CommuniCare Health Centers:
CommuniCare Health Centers (CCHC) having served San Antonio for over 40 years now, is a full-service primary healthcare system offering Family Medicine, Pediatric Care, Women’s Health and OB/GYN care, Podiatry, Dental, Behavioral Health Services, and Urgent Care to residents in Bexar and Hays counties. In 2012, CCHC delivered more than 150,000 visits at three health centers in San Antonio and two in Hays County. CommuniCare has been accredited by the Joint Commission since 1999; an accreditation that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting national safety and quality of care performance standards. In 2012, CommuniCare was designated as a “Primary Care Medical Home” by the Joint Commission.

As a non-profit community health center, it serves those with Medicaid, Medicare, Private Insurance and those that do not have insurance, charging on a sliding-fee scale based on annual household income and family size. For more information on CommuniCare Health Centers please visit www.4all4life.org.

#FaithFamilyClinic – Serving the Working Uninsured

FFClinic logoI never saw a burning bush or heard the voice of God, but the moment she said, “We’ll take care of you” a peace came over me and I felt that God was telling me in a soft, tender whisper, “I am here.” Because of the way I was treated at Faith Family Clinic, with respect and like I was their family, I now carry that same hope and the spirit of true giving to others. Thank you for saving my life and being a part of my life. (William)

The Texas Medical Association reports that 33% of adults in Texas do NOT have medical insurance and we all know that eventually all will become ill and need medical care.  Too often people without insurance will use the most expensive care available – a hospital emergency room!  The vicious cycle is described by the Texas State Comptroller’s office in a 2005 special report, Texas Uninsured: A Hidden Burden on Texas Employers and Communities.

Faith Family Clinic was established as a non-profit medical clinic in 2009 in an effort to provide primary medical care that addresses the issue of spiritual, physical, emotional and social healing.  Using employed physicians as well as volunteers who live out their faith in medical missions, we seek to provide a level of care that compares to those with more expensive insurance policies.

With ObamaCare on the horizon, we are often asked if charity clinics will still be needed. My answer is a definite, “Yes!” We know there are gaps in every system and Faith Family Clinic works with all of the hospitals to meet the needs of families who need a primary care doctor they can afford.  The gaps in healthcare legislation will include many that are part-time employees; others will work for a business that does not provide insurance and even more employees who are not eligible.  Since we are solely supported by our community and do not receive federal funds, we provide a unique service for low income working families by medical providers  that low income workers can afford.

For the Christian Church, Luke 10:2 is often quoted as a missions passage to encourage Christ followers to engage the community as a positive influence. Then in verse 9 we see the admonition to “heal the sick that are there and tell them,The Kingdom of God is near you.’  Much of the healing process is that there is some good news or sense of hope that permeates the physician-patient relationship.  Hope is always at the core of good faith and good medicine and we practice both in our clinics.  We treat patients from all walks of life, faith traditions and those for whom faith is not important.  We believe that everyone should be treated with compassion, respect and expertise.

Our mission is to serve the working uninsured and we offer comprehensive primary care, from treating the common cold to chronic disease management such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart disease, asthma and many others.  Our facilities include x-ray capabilities, sonograms, cardiac treadmill stress tests, diabetic ophthalmology and most laboratory services.  Our physicians are board certified and serve as adjunct faculty at UT Health Science Center San Antonio.  We also serve as clinical preceptorships for UTHSCSA, UIW, UTMB Galveston and Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

For the past year we have been offering a special benefit to those businesses and individuals who choose to sign up with our MemberCare program.  This is not insurance but a direct care membership much like a gym membership that is ongoing but can be cancelled with a 30-day notice.  Participants get the benefit of unlimited primary care for the small monthly fee of $50 for an individual or $100 for the family.  Prevention is the key to good health and our services include an annual physical, wellness assessments, lab work, counseling and certain radiology procedures.

Faith Family Clinic is a community response to the healthcare crisis!  We believe that the community can provide viable solutions to our healthcare needs and Faith Family Clinic is an example of what community support can accomplish.  Consider joining our team as a patient, a volunteer or as a donor (and yes, some serve in all three capacities).

For more information contact, Jim Young, Executive Director at (210) 653-1511, x207 • jyoung@faithfamilyclinic.org