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The People We Serve

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The People We Serve

The patients who visit People's Health are the people who make Summit and Wasatch Counties' economies go. They are the waiters and cooks in our restaurants, the cleaning and landscape staff at our hotels, the ski lift operators and construction workers. Some are students, some are single parents with young children, some are small-business owners. Some work several jobs, but none that offer affordable health insurance. Or perhaps they have been denied health insurance in our ever-more-challenging health care environment.

Here are a few of their stories:

Emily

"It felt like it was something that dropped from heaven." This is how Emily, a registered nurse and mother of two, describes hearing about People's Health. These days she works as a nurse at a job with health insurance benefits. But back in 2002, she and her husband were both were working hard at jobs without health insurance, trying to make a start in Park City. At the same time, Emily was working on her degree. When their young daughters came down with the normal childhood illnesses, they didn't know how they could afford doctors' visits and prescriptions. For a small donation at People's Health, they could be sure their girls Michelle and Aly received quality care for strep throat or fevers, and even could get their needed prescriptions for free or at a discount.

Emily was so moved by the kindness and care her family received at PHC, she returned as a volunteer, doing intake interviews and phlebotomy work at the evening clinics. "I want to say a really big "Thank you" to the people who support the Clinic. You're wonderful!"

Patty

Patty (not her real name) had no health insurance when she started having symptoms of heart failure. She thought she could put off seeking care until she qualified for Medicare, but her family insisted. Her doctor told her about PHC. "I had never heard of it before," she says. "I was very impressed with them when I went. (The doctors and staff) were so thorough." She adds, "It's hard on them, how the doctors donate their time like they do; they're little angels. I made donations every time I went up. I hope I can do more."

Perla

Perla doesn't know where she would have gone these past 6 years for medical care if it weren't for People's Health. "A visit to a doctor's office can cost up to $150 and you usually have to go during the day." People's Health works for Perla has a small housecleaning business in town and cannot afford private health insurance for herself or her 2 employees. "I can pay the suggested donation and see a doctor in the evenings, so I can work all day."

Perla was seen by Sandae Bonaire, a volunteer nurse midwife, throughout her pregnancy with her 6-year-old daughter. "People here are so nice. They call to remind you of your appointments, they have translators if you need them. And Sandae - she and my husband joke around all the time."

"I came for the prenatal class. It was great. You think you know a lot of stuff, but there's so much you don't know." Perla would like to volunteer as a translator one day, to give back to the Clinic that has helped her so much.

Robert

Robert, 55, came to our clinic after experiencing an unexplained weight loss of 60 pounds. He was reluctant to seek medical help because he had no insurance. After diagnosis by our staff, he was found to have advanced diabetes, that if untreated would have soon lead to a coma. Fortunately, the problem was caught in time; Robert received the medications he needed and participated in diabetes education to learn how to manage the disease. He is doing much better.

Andrea

Andrea is one of hundreds of pregnant mothers seen by the providers at the People's Health Clinic every year. During a routine ultrasound at 16 weeks of pregnancy, Andrea was diagnosed with placenta previa, a condition in which the placenta covers the opening to the birth canal. Blood and oxygen are cut off during labor as the baby tries to push through the placenta. This condition could have led to the death of Andrea and her baby, or serious brain damage to the baby. By performing a series of ultrasounds throughout Andrea's pregnancy, PHC providers detected this condition and helped Andrea plan for a ceasarean section. This avoided devastating and costly emergency room procedures. Since 2000, the People's Health Clinic has saved many lives, as well as saving patients and the community hundreds of thousands of dollars in neonatal and intensive care charges.