Hospice Nurse Pitching In To Help Free Clinic Survive, Thrive

Linda Napier, RN, says she was inspired to volunteer at Kevin’s Community Center after learning of Dr Z. Michael Taweh efforts to establish a free community clinic in honor the short life of his late son, Kevin. As a nurse for more than 35 years, including a significant amount of time working with the regional hospice organization, Ms Napier said she has “witnessed triumph and tragedy, birth and death, joy and pain; but to grieve and still create a place of giving and goodness, well that was something extraordinary and I had to be a part of it.”

She said her local volunteerism involves not only a “wonderful cause and great group of volunteers, but as an added bonus, at KCC, I can actually do what I love: be a nurse!

“Over the many years I’ve worked in the health care field, with the escalating demands of state and federal government regulations and the accompanying convoluted, too-often-unrelated and obtuse paperwork with added burdens of time-consuming computer program documentation, the patient seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle,” Ms Napier observes. “At Kevin’s Community Center, paperwork is minimal and our focus is our patients — that’s why we exist because we’re needed to care and give care and we’re given the opportunity to do just that. Boy, does that feel good.”

In an ever-worsening economy, the local nurse shares a view with Kevin’s Community Center’s founder. “Now more than ever and we have seen a tremendous increase in people seeking medical care,” she said.

Since KCC opened its doors, Dr Taweh knows first-hand that free health care is a necessity, even in communities like Newtown where it may be assumed that most residents have employer-based health care coverage.

“More and more Americans are uninsured or, even those who do have insurance through their employer, are finding less services and higher premiums and co-pays.” Dr Taweh, explained. “The large number of uninsured, in a relatively well-to-do community, reflects the serious problem of the health care crisis. We’re seeing new patients every clinic session — mostly middle class and working class people. Those who do have jobs or are self employed, don’t have the means to pay for very expensive health care policies.”

Beyond free health care for area residents in need, Dr Taweh’s vision and prescription for America’s health care crisis is “to work locally and think nationally.” He believes that all communities should open free clinics, requiring effort from pharmaceutical companies, regional health care systems, local doctors and nurses, the community, and patients.

“The solution has to involve everybody” he said. “If you just rely on the government to do it, it just won’t happen. If people and the community find these local free clinics effective, helpful and beneficial, then that would serve as a model for future clinics.

“The state and federal governments can help by giving tax credits for those health care professionals who are willing to volunteer their time, resources, and skills to bring this about.” Dr Taweh continued. “Unfortunately, Connecticut does not offer tax credits. Some states even penalize the doctors for volunteering: if you have retired physicians who are willing to volunteer, the state requires that they pay $15,000 to $20,000 a year for malpractice insurance — just to volunteer!”

To be able to address a very big, complicated issue like the health care crisis, Dr Taweh thinks it would make a lot more sense and be a lot more effective to involve small communities with small efforts.

He describes what happens with big government: “When I see a Medicaid patient in my private practice, as the provider, I get paid 10 to 15 percent of what the office visit costs the government. The system is very expensive because of the bureaucracy and administrative costs. In a clinic like Kevin’s Community Center, staffed by volunteers, supported by the community — 85 percent of the money goes to direct patient care rather than the 10 to 15 percent that comes back through the health care system. Since there is a limited amount of money, you’re better off to start locally, with incentives for those health care providers willing to volunteer.”

“Most patients,” Dr Taweh said, “are very gracious and grateful for the services and try to do their part by offering their services; fixing things at the clinic, volunteering at fundraisers and other functions. Everybody has some skills that they can offer and I would say that 75 percent of our patients give back in some way.”

When people get the care they need before they have to resort to urgent care in emergency rooms, it lessens the burden on our local, state and national health care systems., he added,

“Just think, if every community, working together, were to open a free clinic, we’d be well on the road to recovery,” Ms Napier observed.

For more information, contact Kevin’s Community Center at 426-0496. Additional regional health care referrals are available through AmeriCares free clinic in Danbury at 748-6188; and the Hanahoe Children’s Clinic in Danbury at 748-6471.

Visit KCC on line at www.kevinscommunitycenter.org.