Thread: North Texas Experiences Increase In Clinics Treating Mostly

North Texas Experiences Increase In Clinics Treating Mostly Uninsured, Undocumented Immigrants

17 Jul 2008

Over the last 10 years, the Dallas area has experienced "a tenfold increase in the number" of health clinics that are treating the "growing numbers of people without health insurance, especially [undocumented] immigrants who are fearful to use government-affiliated clinics or hospitals," the Dallas Morning Newsreports. According to a Dallas County Medical Society association, there are more than 40 charity clinics in the area.

Many of the clinics are staffed by volunteers, including doctors, nurses, translators and social workers. Use of the clinics has increased to the point where some must "regularly turn away patients," the Morning News reports.

Connie Webster, community health director for the Dallas County Medical Society, said the growth of the clinics "really shows the alarming situation in our community of the uninsured growing." Texas leads the nation in the percentage of residents who are uninsured, the Morning News reports.

Some of the clinics are required to ask patients for Social Security numbers or other proof of residency, though many clinics' staff members say that treating patients regardless of legal status is the priority, according to the Morning News. Julia Grenier, a local nurse who runs a clinic at the Plano Day Labor Center, said that while county officials "want to make sure everyone we serve is documented ... they know darn well that some of our people aren't" (Solis, Dallas Morning News, 7/14).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115342.php

Connie Webster, community health director for the Dallas County Medical Society, said the growth of the clinics "really shows the alarming situation in our community of the uninsured growing." Texas leads the nation in the percentage of residents who are uninsured, the Morning News reports.

That's because they're bringing entire VILLAGES in for the free medical care and any other free services DUH!

When do we say enough is enough?!?!?

"...especially (undocumented) immigrants who are fearful to use government-affiliated cinics or hospitals."

This must be a new kind of "fearful (undocumented) immigrant" as opposed to the older, bolder variety who didn't hesitate to take over Parkland Hospital, the main public service hospital in Dallas. Parkland now offers free pre-natal care classes in Spanish, in addition to providing supplies of free disposable diapers and baby formula to "(undocumented) immigrants" after the child arrives. Of course the richest plum is the free delivery of the baby itself. And this is just on the maternity ward!

These "fearful" immigrants must have been "hiding in the shadows" as we are constantly told "(undocumented) immigrants" are supposed to do while their more aggressive countrymen were openly taking over the country!