Ryan and Patient    logo      Eliz.Anna

News from
The People's Health Clinic
Serving the
Uninsured Residents of Summit and Wasatch Counties, Utah Since 1999
at The Yard at 1251 Kearns Boulevard in Park City
www.peopleshealthclinic.org  
(435) 615-7822
Monthly E-Newsletter October 2009
The BIG Picture -Getting Bigger!! 
by Sarah Klingenstein

 Sarah

It's the big unknown - when PHC opens our new facility in December, how many more patients will come through our doors?  We're thinking LOTS!

The number of patient visits to PHC has grown beyond anyone's expectations in the past several years, and this year has seen a
 
37% increase January - August over the same period last year.
 
We know that, as we add hours of service and continue to welcome more providers to our fold, these increases will continue.
 
The good news is - with our new facility's rent set at only $1 per year, more of every donated dollar goes directly to patient care.  So.............
 
As you consider end-of-year giving, please remember your community and The People's Health Clinic.
 
 
 
 So Many Ways to Volunteer! 
 
In the past few months we've been helped by three new tech volunteers:
 
Dave Napawoki
Kim Watkin
Phil Collins
 
From keeping our website up to date to helping us evaluate new software and getting us started on Facebook, their services are SOOOOOO appreciated.
 
We also thank
 
Dr. Dwight Klettke
 
for his years of service as Webmaster.  For many years, Dr. Klettke was a volunteer doc, a member of our Board, and a PHC Medical Director.
 
To join in the effort, email Sarah at
 


Join Our Mailing List
Click these links!

Volunteer

Donate

En Espanol

Greetings!
  
 
Save the Date!
 
 
 PHC's Annual Community Celebration will be held Monday, November 16,
 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
at Temple Har Shalom 
 
An evening of music, food, and fun
 
--- and it's FREE!
 
Look for more information in next month's newsletter & in the Park Record.
Former New Orleans Resident Finds Ongoing Care at PHC 
 
Hurricane Katrina took Calvin and Karen LeBlanc on a rollercoaster ride that landed them in Heber City, Utah, and at the door of the People's Health Clinic. They stayed in their rental house until they were rescued and taken to a shelter, where they were married in a ceremony complete with donated gown and suit, flowers and refreshments.  Soon they were selected by Luc Robitaille, the former LA Kings hockey player, to make their new home in Utah. 

They started to get on their feet when Calvin began to see a resurgence of earlier physical and mental health issues.  Depression and a range of illnesses from a mass on his kidney and stomach ulcers to complications from diabetes caused pain and exhaustion, and the bills from doctors' office and ER visits began to weigh the family down.  Calvin lost several jobs due to absenteeism.
 
Calvin had heard about People's Health from a coworker.  Since his first visit to PHC, Calvin has seen Clinic doctors, attended Diabetes Management classes, been examined by Geoffrey Tabin MD, PHC's volunteer ophthalmologist, and has applied for and been accepted into the Health Access Project, which will help pay for care by a specialist.
 
Karen says a weight has been lifted from their shoulders. "Simple things, like paying for the diabetes test strips.  A month's supply costs over $50 and we couldn't afford to buy them.  So Calvin couldn't check his sugar and his levels were up and down.  Now People's Health gives us those supplies.  And Mariely (PHC's Clinic Coordinator and Diabetes Educator)showed Calvin he had to change what he eats.  You think you know how to take care of yourself, but you still need help."
 
Calvin wants to thank those who make this help possible.  "As a man who is used to caring for my own family, this has been really difficult for me, and since I already suffer from depression, it's been hard to see any hope coming down the road.  But now I think I may get the medical care I need. And I appreciate everything - that's one thing about living through something like Katrina - you learn to appreciate the big and little things."
 
PHC Expands Health Education Role
 
It's hard to talk very long about health these days without the issues of Prevention and Patient Education coming up!  The providers at PHC see many people who suffer the effects of chronic conditions or other illnesses that could be prevented, or at least eased, through better diet or lifestyle choices. 
 
Check out the list of classes currently available to our patients at the Clinic:
 
*Prenatal Orientation (required of OB patients)
*Prenatal Classes (18-session course)
*Diabetes Management (3+ sessions, more as needed)
*Arthritis Management (6-session course)
*Chronic Illness (6-session course)
*Heart Health (being developed)

 Marta with Chart
Marta Johnson, PHC Prenatal Instructor
    
PHC has partnered with several organizations, including Holy Cross Ministries and Alliance Community Health, to offer these classes.  When asked about the Chronic Disease classes, Clinic Coordinator Mariely Ferrer explained, "Many chronic diseases have the same underlying causes - poor diet, lack of exercise, and a failure to respond to early symptoms -  people can really benefit from learning how to address these issues."
Remember Oktoberfest this Saturday, October 10 at Shepherd of the Mts. Lutheran Church
 
 
When: October 10, 4 -8 p.m.
Where:  The Church on Hwy 224 just north of the Canyons turnoff
Cost: $10 - children under 10 free
Tickets: Pay at the door or call Karen at 649-2233 to reserve.

xmission
 
Visit Our Website Sponsor