Vasek Polak Health Clinic to Provide Alternative for Uninsured, Underinsured

Hawthorne clinic opening this fall hopes to take the strain off local emergency rooms.

 
It is no surprise that ever-increasing costs have made access to health insurance for small business, part-time and service industry workers extremely difficult. Across Los Angeles County and South Bay communities, 20-40 percent of adults are uninsured. Many others face very high deductibles or co-pays. In Hawthorne, the closure of a community hospital in 2004 has created a crisis in accessing medical care for those who live and work in Lawndale, Gardena and Hawthorne.

Local emergency rooms, Little Company of Mary Hospital included, are increasingly impacted by this crisis, which results in long patient waits and routine “diversion” of ambulances.

 
In addition, many patients without a family doctor or insurance come to the ER for primary medical care that could be provided in a doctor’s office or urgent care clinic.

As part of its community benefit program, Little Company of Mary, in partnership with The Vasek and Anna Maria Polak Charitable Foundation, Inc., is preparing to open a clinic in Hawthorne to meet the primary care needs of under and uninsured adults. The Vasek and Anna Maria Polak Charitable Foundation, Inc., will provide financial support for the start-up and early implementation expenses of the clinic. Scheduled to open this fall, the clinic will be open seven days a week for extended hours and provide a low-cost, fixed-price medical clinic visit for $50. To reduce administrative costs, insurance will not be accepted.

“Working adults who are uninsured or with high deductibles or co-pays face tremendous obstacles getting easy access to medical care when they are sick,” Jim Tehan, director of Community Health for Little Company of Mary said. “The Vasek Polak Health Clinic will let people know how much it will cost for medical care before the visit, and provides convenient walk-in or appointment access. For those in need of additional lab or X-ray tests, the cost will be known in advance.”

The clinic will provide help in finding and scheduling primary care appointments for patients unable to pay altogether or who are on MediCal. For those whose medical needs exceed the scope of clinic services, appointments can be arranged with local, county or private health care providers. Little Company of Mary is also seeking grant funds to help those with chronic illnesses enroll in low cost self-management programs that will be offered at the clinic site.

“In essence, Little Company of Mary has designed a low-cost clinic, with easy access to a clinician, that also helps with managing chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes or asthma at the same location,” Soterios J. Menzelos, president of The Vasek and Anna Maria Polak Charitable Foundation,Inc., said. “We think this model of everyday healthcare for those without a regular place to go, or who can not afford to miss work, has tremendous possibilities for underserved populations in our community and beyond.”

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