According to Hope Clinic of McKinney Executive Director of Development Vicki Northcutt,
“The lack of health insurance keeps many from seeking health care services and preventive care. People who are uninsured or underinsured are more than twice as likely to report going without needed care because of costs. Additionally, data shows that roughly 30% of emergency room visits among patients with chronic conditions are potentially unnecessary, leading to $8.3 billion in additional costs, or $1,917 per ER visit, for the healthcare industry. The high and continually rising housing costs in Collin County have led to a growing transient population who frequently use emergency departments for care. The highest rate of ER use has come from Hope Clinic’s service zip code (75069). These unreimbursed costs could be passed down to taxpayers through property taxes and increased health insurance rates.
“Hope Clinic of McKinney aims to reduce these costly ER visits through increased access to quality primary healthcare, thereby promoting the prudent use of community health resources. Our services include annual exams, sick visits, chronic disease management, well-woman exams, no or low-cost prescriptions and labs, all of which are administered by licensed, certified physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and phlebotomy technicians. In 2022, Hope Clinic provided a total of 3,161 primary care patient visits and currently, we now have over 1,100 patients actively enrolled.
“As a free medical, vision, and behavioral health clinic serving low-income, uninsured Collin County families, our vision was always to become the full-time medical home for over 1,000 uninsured residents as we strive to create a space where everyone is treated with dignity, respect and love. With this vision being achieved in just six years of service, we continue to expand our desire to provide care holistically — healing the body, mind and soul. We endeavor to give the same caliber of care as offered in doctors’ offices across the community.
“While Hope Clinic does not charge a fee for its services, patients are asked to participate in their care by donating a suggested $20 to help cover the costs of the next patient coming through the clinic’s doors. Hope has found that this practice preserves patients’ dignity and investment in care. No patient, however, is ever denied services based on their inability to donate.
“That is why we invite individuals, corporations, churches and foundations/community organizations to join us as we impact the most vulnerable in our community. Our work meets a basic physical need that can be the foundational issue preventing someone from securing and holding employment which provides the funds for shelter or food. We all deserve access to healthcare. Won’t you join us?”
* Photo credit: Hope Clinic of McKinney ** Graphic/photo provided by Hope Clinic of McKinney
In 14 years, Communities Foundation of Texas’ North Texas Giving Day has pumped more than $503 million into the North Texas community. In 2022, more than $62.6 million was raised through 94,385 donors benefiting over 3,210 area nonprofits.
On Thursday, September 21, support Hope Clinic of McKinney by clicking here and spreading the word. #NTxGivingDay2023