Meet Carolyn: Patient Discovers Affordable Resource for Medical and Dental Needs
Every time Carolyn takes a step forward, she’s grateful for Health Partnership Clinic (HPC).
Today, Carolyn, a 50-year-old Johnson Countian, is 50 pounds lighter, attending community college and facing chronic pain with renewed hope.
According to Carolyn, HPC is her lifeline—providing the care she needs when she needs it. Since 2009, Carolyn has witnessed—first hand—the clinic’s transformation.
From expanding hours and opening new clinic sites to the addition of in-house labs, behavioral health and dental outreach care—all aimed to better serve low-income and uninsured individuals like herself.
Carolyn’s life has taken many twists and turns. She’s been a single mother, employed, unemployed, insured, uninsured and now on disability.
When faced with the tragic murder of her son, we were there—listening, comforting and offering counseling services and referrals. Through each life change, we’ve been there. And today Carolyn has a new lease on life and is feeling better than ever.
But there were some dark days. At one point, Carolyn worked a full-time job and had good health insurance. But that all ended when she was laid off and experiencing a myriad of health issues—from high blood pressure to inflammation of the heel to chronic back pain.
“I was a private pay patient, and I was paying $185 or more for every visit,” she says. “My other provider was about to turn me away when a staff member gave me information about the state’s Early Detection Works program for breast screening, and they connected me with HPC.”
Her first visit was for an annual well-woman exam. Now she gets most of her medical and dental care at HPC. She has made HPC her medical home.
“The staff are friendly and competent,” she adds. “And they make you feel like you’re family – like you’re home.” She appreciates the income-based fees, the flexible scheduling and the quality of care.
“It’s a small place, where you can get the same quality of care you would anywhere else. We just need to get the word out about it. There are so many people in the community who need what HPC has to offer.”
Carolyn is giving back by volunteering as a board member at HPC. Her term began in January.
Carolyn is one of nearly 38,000 uninsured individuals living in Johnson County. Many work part-time but still can’t afford the premiums, copays, deductibles and medication costs. HPC provides services in Johnson, Miami and Franklin Counties.