Newsletter Updates

» october 2003 update

Sunday, October 19, 2003 - We have had a smooth transition from planning, building and assembling furniture and supplies, to beginning the Zarephath Health Center. The radio station (Star 99.1) ran ads for the first few weeks and this has prompted many calls from potential volunteers and patients.

John Eck, MD has been available to see patients on Thursdays from 10-2, and Alieta Eck, MD has been there on Mondays from 10-2. We have bandaged wounds, handed out antibiotics, provided pain relief and even have even done a few physicals on people who have not seen a doctor in years. We have counseled a few in abusive situations.

We have been encouraged by the volunteers who have given so freely of their time. Many good ideas come from each one. Dr. Piech presented the mission of ZHC to the elders of his church. It was very well received as he suggested that we could provide a very cost-effective way for churches to fulfill the mandate of the Good Samaritan. We all know that we ought not walk by and turn our heads from people in need, but churches often do not know where to turn for help for their people.

It was a nice surprise to attend a physician conference up in New Hampshire two weekends ago. The speaker was an oncologist who told us about his innovative idea to hire a patient advocate for his office. This caring woman sees the patients when they first come in, gives them a tour, sits with them when are getting their chemotherapy and visits them in the hospital. She prays with them when they want her to. We found it a great model for us to follow in our health center-- as we seek to meet the needs of people at a deeper level then just prescribing tests and medications. We are developing a community that cares.

One of our volunteers accompanied one of our patients down to the county social service office. This person is disabled and hungry, and was told he only qualified for $10. food stamps per month. He needs more help than that. Perhaps government agencies are not the best way to handle the needs of individuals. Perhaps the churches and synagogues could do better.

This week we received a corporate donation of $1000. from Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals. They believe in our mission. We praise God for His faithfulness in getting us up and running. It will be exciting to see how it grows.

An interesting statistic. The uninsured in New Jersey are billed 300% of the cost of their care in New Jersey Hospitals. If their costs are $10,000. they are billed $30,000. There are many reasons for this--not the least of which is the low payments received by government programs and managed care. But, it seems incredibly unfair for the uninsured to bear the brunt of this. The uninsured are often also unemployed, so they can least afford these costs. If they own a house, they are expected to pay-- otherwise a lien is placed on their property. Well, we hope to work with the elders of the churches to go to the hospitals to negotiate these fees down. Then, the churches or the ZHC, funding permitted, can help in part, and set up a payment plan for the family to cover the bill. These people need an advocate, and that will be one of the roles of the Zarephath Health Center.