Introduction
Miriam Medical Clinics (MMC) is incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations. MMC, Inc. is a faith based healthcare organization with a mission to provide compassionate, holistic and affordable medical care to those who have lacked adequate health care in underserved communities of Philadelphia. All persons in Philadelphia, regardless of ability to pay but in need of quality health care and compassion, are welcomed at Miriam Medical Clinics.
Miriam Medical Clinics Concept
Miriam Medical Clinics (MMC) will offer patient care using an integrated health care team approach. The clinic will begin operation in November, 2013. Operations will be implemented in three phases. Initially, MMC, Inc. is establishing a partnership with “The Bethesda Project” (TBP), a program for homeless individuals, with facilities located in several communities within Philadelphia. This collaboration will comprise phases 1 and 2 of implementation as follows:
Phase 1:
During phase 1 health screening and instruction on general health literacy will be offered. This phase will be an informal introduction of medical services within TBP community. In addition, depending upon health/social issues identified, MMC may serve in a referral capacity, directing residents to providers of primary and hospital health care, as well as social service providers. Such services will initially be offered at the St. Mary’s homeless shelter facility of TBP community, 18th and Bainbridge streets in south Philadelphia, which currently has no medical services provided. MMC, Inc. will be serving as volunteers. Services will be offered twice monthly, however with increased numbers of volunteers, it is hoped that a more frequent presence at St. Mary’s may be established.
Phase 2:
Phase 2 will constitute a more formal medical practice as volunteer licenses and practitioner malpractice insurances are secured. Particularly for residents of St. Mary’s who have a more permanent status, it may be possible to manage chronic illnesses, especially involving regular follow-up, transition of care and medication management. These issues are especially relevant to the Affordable Care Act. It is hoped that for those who have lacked access to health care, for a myriad of reasons, such access may be facilitated through MMC. In this model, MMC will also serve in a voluntary capacity.
Phase 3:
Miriam Medical Clinics, Inc. is currently seeking a permanent office location that meets Commonwealth requirements in terms of Disability access and office space. In this facility, MMC will offer medical services based on the Patient Centered Medical Home model (PCMH).
This model is based on a health care approach employing core competencies of several healthcare disciplines. This team effort must be directed at achieving positive patient outcomes by enlisting the patient and professional health team as collaborators in disease prevention, management and health maintenance. Thus MMC will offer a paradigm for healthcare that is patient centered and aimed at effective and continued disease management. Through holistic care, patient education, follow-up and transition of care objectives can be achieved. Thus, the patient’s likelihood of maintaining long term health will be increased.
The core interdisciplinary healthcare team will consist of the following members:
- Physician
- Registered Nurse/Nurse Practitioner
- Clinical Pharmacist
- Diabetic Educator
- Social Worker
Clinical roles of core staff
Physician
The Physician will serve as team leader, with oversight for all patient staff interactions and responsibility for all medical decisions.
Registered Nurse/Nurse Practitioner
The Registered Nurse Practitioner, will serve as an alternative primary care provider leading patient care under the supervision of the physician.
Clinical Pharmacist
The Clinical Pharmacist will be lead delivery of pharmaceutical care services by providing Medication Management services. Medication will not be dispensed.
Diabetic education
The Certified Diabetic Educator will manage patient education with regard to a diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus.
Social Worker
The Social Worker will lead efforts directed at evaluating the patient’s socioeconomic issues that may be related to access to health care and overall health maintenance.