Struggling women receive free medical care

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When a person is struggling to pay rent, a trip to the doctor is likely seen as an unwanted financial burden, even if only a co-pay is required. If that person doesn’t have health insurance, a doctor’s visit may be out of the question. Rockville Centre-based ProHEALTH Care has taken steps to make medical care more accessible for those in need by partnering with Bethany House, a temporary home for struggling women and children, by offering free health care to residents.

“Bethany House has a proven commitment to empowering women,” said Dr. Alison E. Suarez, an emergency medicine physician with ProHEALTH Care. “We felt it was a perfect partner and committed to raising $100,000.”

The fundraising started back in May with a women’s health expo and continued over the summer. During the months of June and July, $1 from every visit to a ProHealth facility was donated to Bethany House. Additionally, collection boxes were set up at each Urgent Care facility requesting toys, books and clothing to be donated to Bethany House.

While the money and items are important for helping the organization, providing free medical care is something that can go a long way toward helping people get back on their feet. A single visit to an urgent care facility can cost $100, depending on the ailment, which is a substantial amount, particularly for struggling families who find themselves in crisis.

“This program is essential for them,” Suarez said. “We can help them avoid getting into a worse situation by providing health care.”

Under the program, residents and staff of Bethany House---which has five locations on Long Island and serves up to 90 people per night—have access to free medical care at all 25 Urgent Care facilities. Suarez said an important aspect of this service is that if a patient needs follow-up care, the staff can help them find a primary health care provider or a specialist. She said she has already seen the benefits of the service: patients with upper respiratory infections, finger injuries and sinus infections, all which would have either been left untreated or could have caused the patient to go into debt. Suarez said she saw one patient who first went to another facility and did not get the proper care.

“Early access to medical care can keep an illness from becoming a bigger problem and more costly, but someone struggling to put food in their mouth and a roof over their head, often won’t go see a doctor because they don’t have the money,” said Dr. Zeyad Baker, president and CEO of ProHEALTH Care. “ProHEALTH Care believes in keeping the community healthy and if that means offering free medical care to women as they get back on their feet, then we will make it happen.”

ProHEALTH Care selected Bethany House as its charity partner due to its unwavering commitment to help struggling women and children in the community. Bethany House has come to be known as the place to go when there is no other alternative for those experiencing homelessness in Nassau County.

“We truly believe in the work of Bethany House,” said Baker. “Bethany House provides a place of refuge and a pathway to regain footing when the crisis of homelessness hits. Without their efforts, the fate of many women and children might have been very bleak...we want to ensure Bethany House remains a valuable resource for the community.”

Suarez has been a doctor with ProHEALTH Care for about five years and said this is the first time she’s seen an initiative like this.

“We’re involved with the community in a meaningful way. It’s really great and means a lot to the staff,” Suarez said. “This is a wonderful resource for women and children in need.”