JCMASH fundraising for free medical services

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The 47-year-old man had high blood pressure, impaired speech and seemed at risk for a stroke when he arrived at the free medical clinic operated by Jefferson County Medical Advocacy and Service Headquarters (JC MASH). But he refused hospitalization, fearing the cost and debt that followed his last treatment.

Working with the doctor and clinic volunteers at JC MASH over the course of several weeks, “JT” tried new medications and new approaches that brought his blood pressure down from 240/120 to 170/88, says Christina Brinch, MN, the President of JC MASH.

Through eight follow-up calls and conversation, JC MASH also helped him connect with a primary care provider he trusts not to put him back in debt trouble, Brinch said.

Jefferson County MASH has helped thousands of people in the past 25 years with basic medical care, referrals or walking them through today’s complex medical system.

A recent JC MASH press release used statistics to sketch the magnitude of the need the organization tries to serve:

More than 13% of Jefferson County adults avoid going to the doctor because of worries about medical debt, the most recent county Community Health Assessment found. Plus about 13% of county residents are without health insurance.

It’s a struggle to stay afloat, said clinical manager Mauria Lombardo, an RN.

“We’re in crisis for a lot of reasons,” she said, citing retiring board members and donation declines.

Yet volunteers say they love helping.

“This is something entirely different than the practice I had in home health and hospice,” Lombardo said. “It’s a whole different part of the community I wasn’t much aware of.”

JC MASH is open Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to help people with minor ailments, obtain prescriptions from its pharmacy, talk with doctors, get referrals to other facilities and recently, acupuncture. They see five to 10 patients a week, most of whom are underprivileged, homeless or who just moved here and haven’t established a doctor relationship.

“The ACA was just beginning (2010) and we thought we’d see the numbers drop,” Lombardo said. “They did a little bit, but it all started to go away when it started to be dismantled with the current administration. Premiums went up, people lost subsidies. A lot of people fell in the cracks.”

“It’s like being on the front lines for the people who really need health care,” she added. “I like seeing people walk out with a smile on their face, a different attitude than when they came in. One lady was ready to throw in the towel. I overheard her as she was leaving, say, ‘I’m so glad someone would just talk to me. I think there’s hope,’ she said. People often just want to be heard. Sometimes that’s the most important thing we do.”

“We’re going to continue as best we can and hope for the best. It’s a necessary service and we need to grow it.”

As one of the organizations operating under the United Good Neighbors fund-raiser this season, Lombardo and Brinch are hopeful residents can see their own healthcare fears in those of JC MASH clients and pitch in to help.