Making More Time for their Patients

There’s only one place outside the hospital ER where the working poor in Raleigh can receive care on the weekend, and that place is Alliance Medical Ministry (AMM).  Since early 2007, AMM has offered clinic hours on Saturdays, and for many, those hours make all the difference. 

Established in 2003, AMM provides care to 5,600 adults with annual household incomes of less than $30,000: too much to qualify for Medicaid, but often not enough to allow for routine medical care.

 “Our patients don’t need a hand out, they need a helping hand,” says Susan Weaver, MD, Executive Director of AMM.

Of course, not everyone can make typical weekday appointments: for hourly workers, missing shifts means not getting paid.  Therefore, many skip scheduled visits.  For example, one of Dr. Weaver’s diabetic patients would miss two out of every three appointments due to work conflicts, limiting his access to essential medication, and increasing his risk of serious health complications.  Since the addition of Saturday hours, he’s made every appointment.

The Saturday clinic is making an impact in other ways:

Enabling AMM to see more patients.  Offering 13,000 appointments annually, AMM had maxed out their space during the week but can schedule additional appointments on Saturdays.

Creating a convenient time for volunteers, helping keep operating costs low.

Trimming the cost of care.  Many uninsured adults visit hospital emergency rooms because other providers require payment up-front, and the number of visits spikes on Saturdays.  In Wake County, the average cost of an ER visit was $1,100 in 2006.  By contrast, the average cost of an AMM appointment was $80 ($10 of which is paid by the patient; the rest is raised by AMM), and this cost is expected to decrease in 2007.

As a result of the Saturday clinic’s success, AMM is now setting its sights on weekday evenings to address the needs of adults working six days a week. Once again, those additional hours may make all the difference and serve as yet another example of AMM’s commitment to serving those in need.

Alliance Medical Ministry was the recipient of a $22,000 Health of Vulnerable Populations grant in 2007 to support the establishment of a Saturday clinic for the uninsured.