Medical Homes (Preferably "Health Home") And The Uninsured

Michelle entered the evening Free Clinic in the church basement to see someone about her earache. For the past 3 days, the pain in her ear had gotten worse, especially after working all day. Without any health insurance. the emergency room was too expensive and getting an appointment at a doctor's office in the evening was impossible. The volunteer nurse practitioner checked her ears, listened to her chest, and gave her an antibiotic with enough pills for the needed ten day course. Michelle left her donation of $5 for the help. Fortunately, her ear pain resolved over the next week, but she continued to have a cough and felt like she was running a fever. She called a community health center but was unable to get an appointment that day as a new patient. At work, the next day. she felt exhausted and fainted while putting away supplies. Her boss took her to the emergency room, where she was examined, had a chest x-ray which diagnosed pneumonia. and was sent home with antibiotics and an order for at least a week in bed. Unfortunately, she was also sent home with a bill of over $800 and discharge instructions to follow up with her regular doctor Michelle did not have a "regular doctor" - or a "medical home" for help with preventive health behaviors or acute health problems.