Medical College Helps Serve the Community’s Uninsured

As part of its mission of community outreach, the Medical College of Wisconsin recently helped establish a clinic that provides free medical care for some of Milwaukee’s uninsured. Russell G. Robertson, MD, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine, is the faculty liaison for the clinic. “The mission of the Saturday Clinic for the Uninsured is to provide health care within the scope of our capabilities to those living nearby and in need,” he says.

The clinic is staffed by volunteer family physicians from the Medical College and community physicians from the Columbia-St. Mary's. Medical College of Wisconsin students play an integral role in the administration of the clinic, said Dr. Robertson, performing the initial evaluation of all patients prior to their being seen by the staffing physician.

"The clinic is also a manifestation of the altruism and dedication of the Medical College of Wisconsin students who worked so hard to bring it to life. There are 11 student leaders who played key roles in getting this clinic operational and they further depend on over 200 other students who volunteer their Saturdays to fulfill their roles in providing patient care.”

Urgent Cases, Preventive Care, Chronic Illness All Treated
The case mix at the clinic, reports Dr. Robertson, is similar to that seen in the office of a family doctor, typically consisting of problems such as hypertension, diabetes, emphysema, minor infections, degenerative joint disease and depression. Occasionally there are more serious illnesses as well. “We try to provide both urgent care and preventive care, and we pay special attention to those with chronic medical problems in the hope that they come back for follow-up care.”

The staff at the Clinic for the Uninsured is able to see about 25 to 30 patients on any given Saturday. Patients at the clinic are asked to sign a form that confirms their lack of insurance, but income-related information is not requested. Many patients have full- or part-time jobs but are not offered health insurance by their employers; this means they don’t qualify for Medicaid. Some patients are unemployed. Whatever the circumstances, the Saturday Clinic makes up for their lack of health care resources.

A Community Partnership
The Saturday Clinic for the Uninsured, sponsored by the Medical College of Wisconsin and Columbia-St. Mary’s Hospital, is supported in part by The Antoinette A. and Mathew Keenan Endowment Fund and the employees of Bostik Findley.

Columbia-St. Mary's hospital, in addition to housing the clinic, covers the costs of radiology services and lab, and works with the clinic staff to reduce the cost of prescription medications for the patients that the clinic serves. “Their contributions have been invaluable,” notes Dr. Robertson.

The Saturday Clinic fills a gap that occurred in the Milwaukee community when similar programs for the uninsured were discontinued. Milwaukee residents are enthusiastic. “Community response to the clinic has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Dr. Robertson. “We are filled to capacity every Saturday.”

P. J. Early
HealthLink Contributing Writer

MCW Health News presents up-to-date information on patient care and medical research by the physicians of the Medical College of Wisconsin.