In the past few days, many Brazos County homes received "a message in a prescription bottle" from Health for All, the wonderful Bryan-based free heath clinic that for more than 22 years has provided basic health care for the working poor.
The message in that bottle is a prescription for better care for thousands of people in the area who can afford neither medical insurance nor expensive doctor visits.
The prescription bottles are the kickoff of a campaign by Health for All to raise more than $50,000 to fund its daily operations. Theme for the campaign is "Help Thousands and Save Millions," which is most appropriate.
Each year, Health for All has more than 4,000 patient visits and issues more than 15,000 prescriptions. By doing so, it saves local hospitals and taxpayers more than $6 million in unpaid emergency room bills.
Health for All can see low-income patients before their illnesses progress to more serious stages. Treatment early is less expensive that treatment later on. And, since the people Health for All sees don't have insurance or regular doctors, they most often have to go to an emergency room for treatment. That ties up facilities needed for emergencies and critical care, meaning longer waits for those who really need to be there. Plus, emergency care is very expensive and since most low-income families cannot pay the bills, either the cost is absorbed by the hospital -- meaning the rest of us pay more for the care we get -- or is passed on to the county, in which case we pay for that, too.
Volunteer doctors, nurses, pharmacists and others keep Health for All running, but it still is expensive to keep the doors open. The need for the clinic hasn't gone away since it was founded. In fact, it keeps growing, particularly in this down economy. Texas has the highest rate of uninsured residents at 25 percent. One in 5 residents of the Brazos Valley lacks health insurance.
It doesn't look like Congress is going to come up with a health reform package any time soon, so the need for Health for All continues unabated.
There are many, many great organizations in Bryan-College Station, all needing support from this giving community. As we go through the holidays, please remember as many as you can, as generously as you can. Food, health and shelter are our most basic needs. Giving to Health for All is a way to ensure a healthier, happier community.
If you didn't get your message in a bottle in the mail but still want to help, please call Health for All Executive Director Derek Dictson at 979-575-4496 or, via e-mail, at ED@hlth4all.org.
Good health. What a great gift.
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