Michigan health clinic opens with stimulus money. 52% of area residents are uninsured.

[Bozita]

Taylor health clinic helps get care to people
Site opens with U.S. funds
BY PATRICIA ANSTETT • FREE PRESS MEDICAL WRITER • JULY 28, 2009


While lawmakers in Washington, D.C., ponder health care reform, the case for why the nation needs change was clear Monday at the formal dedication of the Detroit area's newest federally funded health clinic in Taylor.

The Western Wayne Family Health Center Taylor opened July 1 to serve an upsurge in people who lack health insurance. A sister clinic in Inkster has seen nearly a doubling of patients in the three years it has been open. It has treated 13,000 uninsured and underinsured people.

In an area where 52% are uninsured, the clinics serve chronically unemployed and people with disabilities, as well as laid-off workers.

"When they lost their jobs they didn't lose their hypertension and diabetes," said Linda Atkins, CEO of the two Western Wayne clinics.

more...

http://www.freep.com/article/20090728/BUSINESS06/907280314/Taylor-health-clinic-helps-get-care-to-people

[Vidar]

1. No surprise to this Michigander.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. There have been free and low-cost walk-in clinics..

for years, and a longtime ago there was much talk about expanding them. Haven't heard much lately, with everyone preferring to bloviate about their grand plans, but I always thought that these clinics were an important front line in health care.

There's been some discussion, again, before the grand plans took over the discussion, of medical school scholarships for anyone willing to be a docter in an underserved area. Seems like these clinics would fit the description as well as rural areas.

Or, is the whole thing too third-worldish for Americans to deal with? And how many doctors want to support anything that will reduce their incomes?

[Bozita]

3. kick for the interesting blend of good news and bad news

52% ... That sounds a lot like a majority.