SIDNEY — In just 10 short years, Compassionate Care of Shelby County has become a vital resource for hundreds of uninsured or underinsured local residents. Since 2007, volunteers who are healthcare professionals have joined with a small paid staff to provide medical and dental care.
“We will be using Match Day gifts toward our operations,” explained Compassionate Care executive director Traci Milanese. “Our patient load has gone up by 200 people in just the past six months. We are at an all-time high and we are now paying two nurse practitioners to see patients as often as we can get them in here, as well as Dr. Mann.”
Milanese noted that working individuals with private insurance often must satisfy high deductibles that routinely range from $5,000 to $8,000 a year. Recently, one couple with a child produced an insurance card that required a $14,000 deductible.
“This is the future we are looking at,” she added. “When a majority of our community makes $13.00 an hour and are now asked to pay extremely high deductibles, it’s just not a possibility. Rent, heat, food are the necessity and expectations that someone is able to pay those kinds of bills isn’t reality. So thankfully, we are here to intervene and fill in those gaps.”
Compassionate Care is a faith-based organization that offers primary and dental care clinics each week with lab work and routine testing, such as blood pressure checks, also available. They may assist with limited medications through their services or through connections to medication assistance programs. The clinic is located at 124 N. Ohio Ave. in Sidney, across from the Post Office.
To help Compassionate Care reach their goal on Match Day, gifts must be made payable to the Community Foundation of Shelby County with: Match/Compassionate Care noted on the memo or in an accompanying note or form. Details and forms are available at the Community Foundation website at www.commfoun.com. Gifts must be received on or before Nov. 28 to be eligible for up to $5,000 in matching money.
