2005 was a year in which we responded to the presence of Hurricane Katrina evacuees in a manner unique among clinics in the Dallas area (see below), a year in which there was growth and consolidation of primary care and specialty services, a year of increased professionalism in development and administration, a year in which community health education was expanded, and a year for which we are profoundly grateful.

 

We provided care in the community as shown below. The value column is based on a community standard cost of care.

 

Activity

Patients served

Value

Totals

Medical care for illness

5673

60.00

$340,380.00

Medications provided

5233

45.00

$235,485.00

Immunizations

869

55.00

$47,795.00

Follow-up & home visits

333

50.00

$16,650.00

Social work or chaplain care

401

55.00

$22,055.00

Mammograms

122

150.00

$18,300.00

 

The conservative value of traceable services provided in 2005 was $680,665.00. Expenditures were approximately $150,000. Many services are difficult to quantify (and are thus not included in the traceable figures above), e.g., health screening events (five in 2005), diabetes classes, parent classes, and CHIP/Medicaid assistance. Conservative estimates of volunteer hours serving patients are as follows: Lay volunteers gave at least 2,800 hours. Physicians, nurse practitioners, and RNs gave more than 1,400 hours. Students from Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing Community Care program and from other schools made enormous contribution to the clinic and community. We continued to serve many patients with complex chronic illnesses.

 

News & Comments on Services

 

Hurricane Katrina

Agape volunteers and Baylor students worked at Reunion Arena in the first weeks of the Katrina aftermath. Volunteers, including Bobbie Baxter and Betty Lou Gary, worked at churches in the weeks following. We also opened the clinic an extra day each week (Wednesdays) and because (1) there still are Katrina evacuees in Dallas and (2) the public health system remains overloaded, we remain open this extra day through spring 2006. Agape is thus one of the very few organizations staying the course with respect to Katrina evacuees.

 

New website

The new and truly wonderful Agape website is up and running. Site development by AaronJLynch.com was funded by a donation from Meg Kaufmann, M.D. The Agape URL is

www.agapeclinic.com/

The site includes a calendar on which board meetings, clinic schedules, and other clinic events are listed. There also is a donations button with Paypal capability as well as the clinic address for mailed donations. Thank you, Meg, for funding this successful project. Photo above, Ofelia & children

A small fundraising idea

A friend of Agape asked that her friends make a donation to Agape as a birthday present to her. Several Agape families asked for donations as part of family Christmas gatherings. For those who are materially blessed this is an easy and very nice way to honor friends and family – and serve the community. Of course all donors and persons honored receive an individual letter of appreciation.

 

What is unique about Agape?

When discussing Agape with others, please remember that among all free or indigent care clinics in the Dallas area, Agape is unique in several respects:

·       Agape has been providing quality primary medical care longer than any other similar clinic in Dallas.

·       Specialty care at Agape includes psychiatry, dermatology, and women’s health.

·       We do not require appointments – except for clinics serving the homeless, Agape is unique in this respect as far as we know.

·       Agape’s commitment to health professions education includes year-round placement for medical students, residents, and undergraduate and graduate nursing students.

·       We continue community outreach and home visitation services.

·       The scope of our community health services is phenomenal, e.g., weekly community education, quarterly health screening events, and of course ongoing Saturday immunizations – Agape is still the only year-round site for free childhood immunizations in Dallas on Saturdays.

 

Mr. Sanchez has been an Agape patient for several years. He has diabetes and a history of taking his medications according to his own schedule, which is not the schedule we would like to see him follow. There has long been the perception among staff and volunteers that there is something different about Mr. Sanchez. A few months ago his story came out: for many years he was an alcoholic and often homeless. Through AA/NA and other means he became sober. Now, though he remains economically poor, he spends his spare time helping other homeless men find hope and the means to become sober. He cannot deal well with the bureaucracy and structure of other clinics – and we are so pleased that he is a patient at Agape.

 

Community education

For several years Baylor students and Agape promotoras have provided health-related classes for parents of children attending Zaragoza Elementary School near Agape. In fall 2005, at the request of the Principal at Lipscomb Elementary School (also near Agape), students and promotoras began teaching similar classes at Lipscomb. This spring, we will use curriculum on type 2 diabetes from a national consortium on diabetes prevention. We also will continue to teach the ever-popular, “How to Help Your Child Succeed in School.” Classes continue at Zaragoza through Baylor faculty members Valerie Trousdale and John Paschal, along with other Baylor students.

 

Program development

The Dallas Women’s Foundation grant to provide education and internships for lay health promoters (promotoras) was renewed. UT Southwestern Medical Center provided interim funding for the promotora program and we are working with the medical school on ways to work together to improve services to the community and enhance health professions education. We also are working with Baylor to increase collaborative services. Concilio Dallas continued to provide diabetes education for Agape patients (and we assisted Concilio in becoming a United Way agency). A community laboratory began providing lab services for Agape patients. The Dallas County Medical Society helped us with resources after Katrina. Common Grace Ministries remains a wonderful partner to Agape and to the community.

News & comments on the organization, board, & people who make Agape happen

 

There was good media coverage of Agape again this year. The Baylor Magazine’s February 2005 cover story was on Agape: Do Not Grow Weary in Doing Good. The Baptist Standard also published a cover story in November on Agape: A Healing Touch <http://www.baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php>

Baylor University produced a film on response to Hurricane Katrina. Agape was featured in the film, which can be viewed at http://www.baylortv.com/video.php?id=000929. The Dallas Women’s Foundation filmed the clinic and interviewed volunteers and staff for a This is the DWF film for their annual awards meeting. Photo below is of Betty Lou Gary, the definition of Steadfast

Carrie Kovarik (founder of Agape’s dermatology service) and Charles Kemp, along with a colleague in Washington had a book (Infectious and Tropical Diseases) published by Elsevier Science. The book was written for physicians and nurse practitioners working in primary care in clinics such as Agape and in overseas missions and refugee relief.

 

Beuy Sribonheung, one of our long-time Common Grace volunteers, along with his wife, Tik, moved to Laos on a lifetime mission.

 

Kelly Werlinger, MD, one of our steadfast dermatology volunteers was one of two recipients of the UTSWMC 2005 Excellence in Dermatology Award for exemplary achievements pertinent to dermatology and for promise of leadership in dermatology.

 

Jenny Hironaga, a lay volunteer for three years and 2005 high school graduate is one of two 2005 Presidential Scholars from Texas!

 

Changes within the organization include: Roxanne Arambula went to work full-time in her field (finance) and Leslie Kemp stepped in as director. Lupe Springer resigned as lead promotora and Nora Avila was promoted to this position. We continue the trend of almost everyone who leaves a paid position staying on as a volunteer.

 

Agape’s first fundraiser, an art event, was held in April and was a success. Special thanks to Kathryn Marshall and Roxanne Arambula for making this happen.

 

Contacts

Leslie Kemp 469 387 8134 (for Thursdays & Fridays)

Kathryn Marshall 214 929 6488 (for Saturdays)

Charles Kemp 214 801 3627 (for donations, other)

 

Finally

 

Charlie Sprague, MD, former President of UTSW Medical School and President Emeritus of the Southwestern Medical Foundation died Saturday, September 17, 2005. Dr. Sprague was a friend of Agape. It was his work behind the scenes that resulted in us receiving the grants in 2002 and 2003 that made it possible for the clinic to grow and prosper as it has these past few years. We were just one of many groups that he touched; he touched countless individuals as well. Charlie Sprague was a very good man and we are deeply grateful for his presence.