Free Health Care Experiment Seeks to Help Indigent

While dozens of doctor-rich HMOs spring up all over Queens, and Manhattan hospitals open upscale facilities in the borough, there are still countless patients mainly members of impoverished ethnic groups struggling to find a doctor to take care of them.
The underserved patients from such communities as Corona, Flushing, Astoria and Richmond Hill are often turned away because they lack insurance and the funds needed before they can receive care.
These orphans of the boroughs health care delivery system are caught up in epidemic-like outbreaks of tuberculosis, diabetes, hepatitis B and C and asthma, along with a host of contagious diseases.
But now an innovative experiment is under way in Queens to offer free care to patients in need of treatment and surgery. The new entity, called HealthReach NY, is the brainchild of Dr. Joe Dwek, chairman of the board and a former chief of medicine at Booth Memorial Hospital, now known as New York Hospital Queens Medical Center.
"New York City has the highest percentage (77 percent) of uninsured racial and ethnic minorities," he said. "Queens County has the highest percentage of uninsured people in the City with one out of three borough residents (33 percent) between 18 and 65 lacking health insurance."
Dwek admits that his group of 80 volunteer physicians are not equipped to solve the growing gap in health care, but hopes that his organization will attract quality physicians and hospitals willing to volunteer their services.
HealthReach NY is a non-profit organization launched in 1998 by New York Primary Care PC, a group of more than 45 physicians practicing throughout Queens County which is "increasingly concerned" with the problem of their uninsured patients.
Kwek acknowledges his fledgling organization is not equipped to provide specialized care and complex surgical procedures.
He cited the following examples of health care rendered by HealthReach:
. A 23-year-old actress was diagnosed as having a pre-cancerous condition of the cervix, underwent gynecological surgery and was given a clean bill of health.
. A 62-year-old Korean woman incapacitated as a result of stroke involving the left side of her body and apparent depression, was seen by a neurologist and then referred to an intensive rehabilitation program. She is now ambulatory and able to care for herself.
. A 33-year-old insulin dependent diabetic was treated by a primary care physician and was taught how to adjust her insulin treatments.
. A 43-year-old asthmatic with repeated visits to the emergency room was put on a regimen and is now stable.
. A 47-year-old patient with Bells Palsy was seen by a neurologist and is recovering after treatment with cortisone.
. A 62-year-old Korean pastor who knew he had cancer of the thyroid for eight months but was unable to afford care underwent major surgery by a volunteer head and neck surgeon at a prestigious hospital. His short-term outlook was described as favorable.
Kwek said that language problems in treating patients are immense with more than 160 languages spoken. He said that cultural differences are another complicating factor.
"One Korean patient left the program to be seen by a faith healer," Kwek said. "Another faced with a course of western medical treatment decided to return to her native Korea after a family conference."
HealthReach treats Chinese, Haitian, Indian, Italian, Korean, Latino, Pakistani and Russians.
Kwek pointed out that when physicians take the Hippocratic Oath they make a fundamental commitment to serve people regardless of their circumstances.
The new organization works closely with a variety of community groups including the Northern Queens Health Coalition, HANAC, the Flushing YMCA and HIRE, a multi-service organization with roots in the Latino community.
HealthReach receives guidance from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.