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Nov 20, 2009 5:52 pm US/Central
JPS Program Helps The Uninsured
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Like a lot of people, 26-year old Nancy Martinez, a mother of three young girls, only went to the doctor when she felt ill. And her doctor was whoever was on duty in the emergency room.
"That was mainly just not having insurance," Martinez said. "Not even knowing where to go to seek any kind of help that would be reasonable for me to pay out of pocket."
When tingling extremities and poor vision finally took her to the Harris ER, doctors found Martinez had multiple sclerosis. Without a regular doctor she would be an ongoing visitor to the emergency room.
"The opportunity to get involved in a clinic system, a follow-up system offers a continuity of care you just don't get in the an episodic visit to an emergency room visit," said Oscar L. Amparan, president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth.
Shaving the number of emergency room visitors is a big goal of most hospital. Texas Health Harris Hospital, for instance, saw the annual number of ER visits climb from 83,000 patients in 2007 to nearly 92,000 in 2008. Neighboring JPS Hospital saw daily ER visitors just from 185 people a day last year to 250 people a day this year.
Texas Health Harris Hospital and JPS Hospital teamed up to treat people like Martinez before they become ER regulars. Qualifying people can join JPS Connection.
"(If) you qualify for our charity care program, you qualify for our clinics," said Robert Early, JPS President and CEO. Clients would qualify for ongoing, preventative visits and become part of the JPS system. "And we want to keep you in that system," said Early.
The program discounts medicine. It offers regular doctors visits for five dollars and offers peace of mind to patients who might not otherwise be able to afford it.
"That's what makes me feel better," Martinez said. "Knowing I have a neurologist and that I can go to see a doctor and he can help me. And I'm looking forward to the rest of my life and I know I'm going to be great!"
To find out the income requirements to qualify for the program,
click here.
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