TRINITY COMMUNITY CARE

Our Vision

• To start a nonprofit 501c3 organization providing free acute and primary medical and dental care for the uninsured people of Oakland and Macomb Counties.

• The target population is 18-65

• Prescription and non-prescription medications will be provided

Our Model: Cabrini Clinic

• Cabrini Clinic in Detroit is the oldest free clinic in the United States

• Operating 61 years

• Affiliated with Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church

• Managed by Sister Mary Ellen Howard

Why do it? There is a need.

• Macomb county is not immune– 127,104 people in Macomb County are at or below

200% of Poverty level (2000 Census): $42,406 for a family of 4.

– 22% of the people at or below 200% of poverty are uninsured (2009 Macomb County Poverty Report)

• Sterling Heights and Shelby hardest hit– According to the Macomb County Poverty Report, 17

of 24 Macomb County communities saw their poverty ranks grow since the last census.

– Sterling Heights and Shelby experienced the largest gains, followed by Warren, Clinton Township, Chesterfield and Eastpointe.

• 1.1 million uninsured in Michigan; 82% are working families.

• The nearest clinics: 28 mile & Van Dyke, and 10 mile in Warren.

Why should we do it?

Trinity is uniquely positioned to help

• Trinity is in the middle of a 10-mile radius void of medical assistance for the uninsured.

• It is on the bus line, providing easy access to care.

How do we start?

• We will form a 501c3 company called Trinity Community Care.

• We have a medical registration, records and prescription program called Open EMR.

• We will obtain medications –donated by drug companies and pharmacies, and provide assistance through need-based programs.

• We will obtain supplies by donations or purchase.

When and where do we start?

• We will initially treat patients on 1-2 Sundays per month concurrently with the SSS program.

• As need increases, we hope to expand to a few times per week.

• Eventually, we plan to move to a separate building as funding allows.

Liability

• We would need general liability insurance.• Two laws provide protection:

– Federal Volunteer Protection Act provides civil liability protection for non-profit volunteers if the volunteer was acting within the scope of his/her responsibility and was properly licensed, certified or authorized to engage in the activity. It also requires that the harm not be caused by willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct or a "conscious, flagrant indifference" to the rights or safety of the individual harmed by the volunteer.

– Michigan Good Samaritan Law provides immunity for volunteer licensed health professionals, including physicians, in free clinics. Also covers specialists who receive referrals to their office from free clinics. The clinic must have patients sign a release.

• Cabrini Clinic, in operation for 61 year, has never had a lawsuit.

Staff

• Our volunteers would be board-certified Emergency and Family Practice Physicians, Dentists, Dental Hygenists, Nurses, Pharmacists, Social Workers and others interested in serving their community.

• We hope to partner with Beaumont Hospitals for staffing, lab, xray and sub-specialty support.

Community Support

• We plan to involve people in the community for support – political, medical, and social services.

• We will plan for fundraising to help in obtaining supplies and medications.

• We will involve area Hospitals.

Our Creed

• We are committed to serve the community as Christians, following Jesus’s example.

• “ Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Matthew 25:40

Questions?