Clinic, rescue mission help the homeless

By Maureen Magee
UNION-TRIBUNE

August 6, 2006

A shortage of downtown parking sparked the marriage between the San Diego Rescue Mission and a health care provider.

The result is the first full medical clinic at the Rescue Mission, providing services for hundreds of homeless men, women and children who come in with an assortment of ailments and health needs.

Comprehensive Health Center moved into the former downtown hospital that houses the rescue mission in January and has treated 75 to 100 patients a week since. The new partners introduced the collaboration to the public last week. "Homeless people have a really enormous variety of physical problems, from tuberculosis to AIDS to rotting teeth to feet that hurt," said Jim Jackson, president and CEO of the San Diego Rescue Mission.

"They are the most underserved population in San Diego," he said. "This is an important way to get them the proper medical attention so they can stabilize their lives and enter our recovery programs."

Before the clinic opened at the rescue mission, the only in-house medical care came from a single nurse. That meant the roughly 350 homeless boarders had to find health care elsewhere.

Now, two doctors, a nurse, medical assistants and a lab technician work at the former Harbor View Hospital on Elm Street.

"It means rescue mission clients can remain in the programs and services here, and they won't lose time traveling across town to get to a doctor," said Joe Davis, president and CEO of NMA Comprehensive Health Center, which used to reside up the street from the mission. "Of course, we also offer services to anyone who walks in. A lot of people without insurance need medical services."

Katrina Abalos of Clairemont is an example.

Abalos recently got a part-time job as a medical assistant but has not yet qualified for insurance. After experiencing chest pains, Abalos made an appointment for a checkup and a chance to talk with a doctor about her family's history of heart disease.

"It's really hard to find a doctor when you don't have insurance," said Abalos, 23. "If I have the flu or something, I just self-medicate or self-diagnose. But with this, I need to see a doctor."

The clinic is so clean and its staff so professional that Abalos said she didn't even realize it was inside a homeless center, where residents are kempt and required to stay sober.

Richard Tafoya, who checked into the rescue mission about six weeks ago, said the clinic offered him long overdue medical attention for high blood pressure and cholesterol and for other health problems. He had put off going to the doctor because of unpaid medical bills and a lack of insurance.

"I'm finally getting things taken care of," said Tafoya, 50. "It's nice."

Since Comprehensive Health Center moved into its new facility, it has expanded from largely treating patients for AIDS and TB testing to more of a general health clinic. It takes patients with and without insurance.

The center is outfitted with six examination rooms, three of which have play areas for children.

The clinic's expansion is helping the nonprofit facility treat a broader base of residents. It's also helping the organization overcome previous problems, Davis said.

In 2003, county health officials canceled $373,000 in contracts with Comprehensive Health Center after an investigation revealed misallocated money, unqualified employees and deep debt. Comprehensive Health was ordered to reimburse the county $308,000 in federal and state funds.

"We are headed in a new direction," he said. "This is positive."

Davis and Jackson both laugh about the unlikely way they got together.

Comprehensive Health was short on parking spaces when Davis noticed extra space at the rescue mission. When he asked Jackson whether the clinic could share his lot, the answer was simple.

"I told him he could have the spaces if he moved in," Jackson recalled. "It just so happened they were looking to move."


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