Increased access to chiropractic care for underserved populations is now underway, thanks to a new partnership between Caritas Clinics, Inc. and the Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) Chiropractic Health Center. Through this partnership, chiropractic interns will add high-value, complementary chiropractic services and care to the free healthcare services provided to patients coming to Caritas Clinics. The new partnership launched June 28, 2019, on a limited schedule at the Duchesne Clinic in Kansas City, Kan.
“We are excited about this partnership with the Cleveland University-Kansas City Chiropractic Health Center, which enables us to provide services our patients could never be able to afford otherwise,” said George Noonan, executive director of Caritas Clinics. “Our shared commitment to care for the whole person will have such a positive impact in our community. The clinic provides medical care to 1,400 uninsured patients annually who live below 150% of the federal poverty level.”
Noonan said their patients do not have health insurance or access to Medicaid or Medicare and most have not had access to chiropractic treatments.
“The intention for us is to have chiropractic interns available for the clinics’ patients 20 hours per week,” Dr. Jeffrey Baier, director of clinical education, said. “The CUKC/Caritas partnership gives Caritas clinic doctors an in-house referral to the CUKC chiropractic interns.”
Dr. Angie Samuelson, a member of the University’s clinical faculty, will coordinate the interns schedule.
Dr. Jason Qualls, assistant dean of clinical education, emphasized that chiropractic interns will serve patients at Caritas Clinic locations. Working on-site presents interns with additional experience in patient care situations. The Caritas Clinic prepared a wellness room for chiropractic adjustments, and CUKC provided an adjusting table.
“Our interns will also see expanded ways to develop relationships with other healthcare professionals in an interdisciplinary healthcare environment,” Qualls said. “Most important of all is that we’re helping an underserved local population have access to the healthcare they deserve. At the same time, CUKC chiropractic students get hands-on experience serving the community.”
Noonan said at the Duchesne Clinic, almost 80% of patients are Hispanic, and many require bilingual interpretation services. Caritas Clinics operates two facilities, the Duchesne Clinic, 636 Tauromee Ave., in Kansas City, Kan., and the Saint Vincent Clinic, 818 N. 7th St., in Leavenworth, Kan.
Patient care services at both clinics include primary healthcare, laboratory and radiology, medication assistance, diabetes education, and referrals to other clinics and social service agencies.
