FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JMC offers support to enhance patient care at MyClinic
JUPITER, Fla. (March 18, 2014) – To serve the growing need for health services
for the uninsured and underinsured in Palm Beach County, Jupiter Medical
Center (JMC) and three community partners have supported the establishment
of MyClinic, a free non-profit community primary care and urgent dental
clinic, located at 6405 Indiantown Rd. B, in Jupiter, Fla.
Amidst healthcare reform and the rising cost of private health care, many
in the community cannot access necessary medical services.
“Jupiter Medical Center is excited to see the next phase of this
community-based initiative being implemented with MyClinic," said
John D. Couris, President & CEO, Jupiter Medical Center, and MyClinic
Board Member. "Through our community needs assessment study, we found
that access to care is a barrier to our community’s health and well-being.
With the support from Jupiter Medical Center and the conglomerate of companies
involved, MyClinic will be able to bring accessible healthcare to those
in need within our community."
Jupiter Medical Center committed to the project after reviewing the clinic’s
business plan and surveying the need in the community. In addition to
providing imaging and lab services at no charge to registered MyClinic
patients, the hospital provides administrative support in the areas of:
Information Technology; Marketing; Facilities Development; Finance and
overall project management. MyClinic is staffed exclusively by licensed
volunteer providers who generously donate their time and expertise.
In addition, MyClinic was awarded grant funding from Quantum Foundation,
Palm Healthcare Foundation and Allegany Franciscan Ministries to cover
operating costs for the first three years of operation.
The mission of MyClinic is to provide a healthcare safety net for uninsured
and underinsured patients who would otherwise go without medical care.
The support of JMC ensures the clinic can successfully carry out its mission
to provide quality healthcare to those that would otherwise go without
treatment.
Nelson Alvarez, former MyClinic patient, is a prime example of MyClinic’s
mission at work. He volunteered his time to help mount equipment inside
MyClinic – as a way of giving back and saying thank you for the
medical care he received.
“When I needed help the most, MyClinic was there – after everyone
else had closed their doors. The clinic has been instrumental in my road
to recovery,” said Alvarez. “I now volunteer my time to help
set up exam rooms to give back in any way I can.”
Jupiter Medical Center, El Sol - Jupiter’s Neighborhood Resource
Center, the Palm Beach County Health Department, and the Town of Jupiter
identified the need for a higher level of accessible healthcare and supported
the development MyClinic. Prior to the new building opening in January
2014, the clinic operated on a smaller scale as the collaborative Jupiter
Volunteer Clinic which operated on Saturdays in the Palm Beach County
Jupiter Auxiliary Health Center.
The new building represents the second phase in a process that began in
2012 with the establishment of the collaborative Jupiter Volunteer Clinic.
Since its inception, Jupiter Volunteer Clinic, and now MyClinic, became
a medical home to more than 380 registered patients who accounted for
approximately 900 visits. The clinic is currently open three half-days
per week for primary medical services and serves adults 18 and older who
live at or below 200 percent of the poverty level. An estimated 50 patients
per week are seen free of charge.
About Jupiter Medical Center
A not-for-profit 283-bed regional medical center consisting of 163 private
acute care hospital beds and 120 long-term care, sub-acute rehabilitation
and Hospice beds, Jupiter Medical Center provides a broad range of services
with specialty concentrations in oncology, imaging, orthopedics &
spine, digestive health, emergency services, lung & thoracic, women’s
health, weight management and men’s health. Founded in 1979, the
Medical Center has approximately 1,500 team members, 575 physicians and
640 volunteers. For more information on Jupiter Medical Center, please
call (561) 263-2234 or visit
www.jupitermed.com.
JMC Partners with MyClinic to Bring Healthcare to Underinsured in Palm
Beach County