Our Approach
Cultural competency. Economic transparency.
Logistical ease. Language.
These values, which we refer to as “CELL” for short, guide everything we do at Clínica Médicos every day. When my team and I opened the clinic in 2015, we knew that we had an opportunity and an obligation to do something new and better in the way medicine was delivered. We were driven by a mission of providing care to members of our community traditionally underserved and overlooked in so many ways. We made a commitment to ourselves and the people who supported our work that we would give our patients and their families the full measure of dignity and care they deserved.
Since opening opening in March 2015, we’ve seen over 100% growth in patient visits. We work to bridge health care gaps.
We advocate for patients by:
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Many Latino patients wait until a problem is severe to seek medical help. By the time they go to the ER, the cost of a visit can equal more than a month of wages for a family of four living at the Federal Poverty Level.
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We draw upon our experience and skills working with the Latino community to develop trust with every patient, bringing together resources to connect uninsured Latinos with ongoing care beyond our walls.
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Unfortunately, we have patients who have lived in pain and discomfort for untreated symptoms because the healthcare system is too confusing and difficult to navigate. Our team initiates and organizes care. At times, the largest need is to connect patients with community partners.
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Many Latino patients leave ERs around Chattanooga without a clear plan for follow-up or understanding what tests were performed. Not only do we offer bilingual services in every interaction, with every patient, but we take the time to be certain they understand how best to care for themselves and their families.
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A startling amount of prescriptions go unfilled in America because of financial and language barriers. We keep medications on-site to avoid communication barriers, to eliminate logistical difficulties, and to reduce costs to the patient.
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Thousands of Latinos with mental illness go without professional treatment. Their struggles involve the need to rapidly acclimate to a new culture with little time to process traumatizing pieces of their personal history. Our team recognizes and understands the connections of mental, spiritual and physical health. Our focus is to listen, to treat when necessary, and to connect our patient with appropriate counseling services.
