Miami Herald - Thursday, August 08, 2002
Maryann Holland, mholland@herald.com

Even though he holds down a job working on cars for a dealership, Francisco Figueroa still can't afford health insurance.

That's why Figueroa, 54, is one of 34,000 patients who visits the Community Health Center of South Dade Inc. Doris Ison Health Center each year.

What started out in a double-wide trailer in 1971 has transformed 31 years later into a 96,000-square-foot facility with six primary care centers, five outreach programs and three school health programs, including care for pregnant teens and their children.

CHI, as it is known throughout South Miami-Dade, is the clinic of choice for many -- especially those with no health insurance or little money.

"I go to the clinic because I earn a small salary, and the clinic only charges me based on what I make," said Figueroa.

CHI treats people with or without insurance. For patients with no insurance, medical fees are based on a sliding scale that factors in their income and family size.

If a patient still can't afford the fee, there is a base payment of $10. If that is too much, then the patient pays nothing.

The Ison Center costs about $25 million a year to run, and is funded by local, state and federal money, said Col. Brodes Hartley, president and CEO of the Ison Center.

Federal funding comes from the Bureau of Primary Healthcare and state funding from the Department of Children and Family Services.

Local money from the Ryan White Fund supports AIDS education, and the Department of Health gives money for AIDS health assistance.

Besides primary care, the center has behavioral healthcare facilities, dentistry, podiatry, optometry, pre- and post-natal care, gynecology, HIV/AIDS, gastroenterology, radiology, pharmacy and substance abuse programs.

Figueroa has chronic foot problems -- so he visits the clinic's podiatry unit.

For injuries or symptoms that aren't life-threatening, but should be looked at right away, the clinic has an urgent care center open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In case life-threatening emergencies happen to come in the Urgent Care Center, a helipad is on-site, and patients can be airlifted to Jackson Memorial or Homestead Hospital.

The Ison Center has approximately 450 employees, including doctors, nurses, technicians, physicians assistants and administrators.

Many say giving good medical care to people who could not otherwise afford it is rewarding.

"There is an extra satisfaction you get from working with the patients here," said Marilyn Taylor-Duncan, coordinator of managed care.

Besides providing affordable medical care, the center also helps patients by giving them rides to their appointments.

If patients call 24 hours before their appointments, they can be bused to the center at no cost, then dropped off back home.

The in-house pharmacy allows patients to have their prescriptions from their doctors at the center filled immediately.

Despite these efforts, Hartley said the center is still looking for ways to improve patient care.

CHI recently hosted former NBA star Sean Elliott, who discussed new methods of kidney disease detection before a crowd of kids and adults. CHI officials say they are committed to offering the tests to their patients.

"Our motto: Patient care comes first," said Hartley.

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