“The intent of Mission at Home is to provide medical care for people in need, which is in keeping with AMITA’s mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus,” said David de Ramos, DO, the clinic’s medical director, “but we also want to get these patients access to ongoing care. If we can do that, we impact them long-term, and that magnifies the impact of the event manyfold.”
The day-long clinic offered medical evaluations across a variety of specialties, including primary care, orthopedics, podiatry, sports medicine, pediatrics, endocrinology, psychiatry, dermatology and physical therapy. The clinic for the first time also featured dental services.
Patients could receive free medications dispensed by AMITA pharmacists, and chaplains were on hand to guide and counsel patients. Other services included diabetic testing and mental health evaluations and referrals. In addition, AMITA social workers connected patients with community resources to access ongoing medical care and address issues such as housing, food insecurity and domestic violence.
“The intent of Mission at Home is to provide medical care for people in need, which is in keeping with AMITA’s mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus,” said David de Ramos, DO, the clinic’s medical director, “but we also want to get these patients access to ongoing care. If we can do that, we impact them long-term, and that magnifies the impact of the event manyfold.”
Community partners at the event included VNA, a federally qualified health center whose representatives administered COVID-19 vaccinations and helped patients establish a medical home for ongoing care; Access DuPage, a nonprofit that made specialty referrals and helped patients find a medical home and access Affordable Care Act insurance; and a network of 10 food pantries, including the Neighborhood Food Pantries, ICNA Relief Food Pantry, Glen Ellyn Food Pantry and the Northern Illinois Food Bank. More than 200 boxes of food were given to clinic participants, courtesy of the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the ICNA Relief Food Pantry.
De Ramos thanked all of the community partners involved in the event and expressed deep appreciation to the more than 100 AMITA associates and physicians who volunteered at the clinic. “Their selfless contributions and their commitment to AMITA’s mission were inspirational,” he said.
The clinic was the second of its kind in Glendale Heights, and de Ramos plans to conduct another one there next summer. AMITA tentatively plans similar clinics in La Grange this October and in Elgin next year.
Julie Busch, associate vice president, AMITA Health
