Nearly everyone who has ventured within earshot of a television in the last 18 months knows that a large percentage of America remains uninsured -- the Census Bureau estimated that number to be 15.4% (nearly 46.5 million people) in 2008. This is a staggering number and regardless of your personal stance on health care, insurance, tax incentives, or single-payer systems, the fact remains that Siskiyou County is not “immune” to these statistics (sorry for the pun). All levity aside, however, the advent of the Volunteers for Health Care (VHC) clinic means there is no longer any reason that anyone should forgo primary care here in Siskiyou County simply because he or she lacks insurance.
Several weeks ago, I was invited by Dr. David Holst and Dr. Jim Parker, the physician who founded the VHC, to watch how the clinic is run. For those who don’t know, the idea is beautifully simple: area physicians volunteer a few hours on a Sunday to open their clinics and provide primary care to those who would not have access otherwise. While to the physician it is nearly identical to their routine clinic, to many of the patients it is an incredible opportunity they could not afford any other way. Instead of monetary payment, the clinic runs on a “Pay it Forward” system where patients take on a moral imperative to do an act of good will for a stranger. As Dr. Parker told me, this means the medical service is not a handout, but a moral barter system.
When I asked Dr. Parker what I could do to help the clinic out he told me something interesting -- the biggest problem facing the clinic right now is a lack of use; therefore, the biggest thing I could do is to spread the word about the clinic. If you have a health concern and lack insurance, for heaven’s sake, go. Also, tell your friends, neighbors, and coworkers about this opportunity. If you’re interested in using or helping out the VHC clinic, next time you see Dr. Parker, tell him how much you admire his vision and give him a big hug. Visit www.vhctoday.org or look in the newspaper for the next clinic date and location.
