Patient Stories
Robert was referred to St. Catherine’s from the Heart Failure Institute at Einstein Hospital. At only 39 his cardiac function was minimal after two heart attacks and recent 4-vessel bypass surgery. Short of breath simply walking, clearly he could not work, but his wife’s minimum wage job that barely sustained their young family of four disqualified him from Medical Assistance. He would have to wait two years to get Medicare through Social Security Disability, but surviving those two years was going to be a challenge.
When Robert first came to us he was having chest pains, and when they progressed, we managed to get him evaluated. Unfortunately it was found that 3 of Robert’s 4 grafted vessels had collapsed and repeat surgery was not an option. Robert needed intensive medical therapy to have any hope of surviving, but without insurance that care would have been out of reach if not for St. Catherine’s.
We provided all of Robert’s medications, office visits, and periodic lab testing, and because he was able to show that he had that care, Einstein Hospital agreed to treat Robert with additional therapy including Enhanced External Counterpulsation, a therapy he could never have accessed otherwise. With months of close monitoring and treatment with EECP and medications, Robert’s cardiac status improved and he has remained stable for two years.
Although the cost of the care given to Robert at St. Catherine’s these past two years exceeded well over $2,000, he has been able to pay only $25 towards that care. Robert was truly marginalized from the health care he needed to survive, and there is no question that without the care he received from St. Catherine’s, he would not have survived to see age 40 or to raise his children.
At 49 years old Sandra suffered from high blood pressure, asthma, and diabetes, all uncontrolled when she first came to St. Catherine’s. As we worked with her to adjust her medications we learned that Sandra was an adoptive mother to a teenager and three other children whom she had raised from infancy and all of whom are special needs children. Clearly there was much stress in her life.
Though her blood pressure was soon controlled, her A1C remained slightly high. We knew that Sandra’s husband was fighting cancer so we saw Sandra monthly to be sure she was managing. When Sandra received medical assistance we referred her to another primary care provider who took her insurance, but when she came back to us one year later, her A1C was much higher and she told us she wasn’t taking care of herself. We realized that Sandra needed frequent visits to help her hold everything in her life together while also paying attention to her health.
Over the following two months we saw Sandra every two weeks, reviewing her diet, her medications, and her life, and then resumed monthly check-ups. Thankfully her husband’s cancer went into remission, reducing Sandra's stress, and over the course of this past year, Sandra’s blood sugars came close to goal. Sandra’s overall health is very good thanks to the care she receives at St. Catherine’s, and her good health is vitally important to the overall well-being of her very special, special needs family.
In Room 1, Julie waited expectantly. A long-time patient of St. Catherine’s, all it took was one simple request, “Would you tell me about yourself?” She brought me way back, before the countless medical issues, hospital visits, and medications, before her work experiences, college career, and childhood. She brought me back to her birth in Japan about 60 years ago, where her father was serving in the US military.
After coming back to the states, she grew up and earned her college degree in social administration. She made her career working for the federal government, when in 2001 she learned she had lymphedema – a condition that causes immense swelling, especially painful in the arms and legs. Although not curable, it can be controlled with treatment. She was passed specialist to specialist, and but in 2006 she landed in the hospital and was even in a coma for 4 days.
She explained how she ended up uninsured – when the full-time work stopped, so did the insurance. “I have investigated getting insurance, but it’s so expensive. It’s very difficult when you don’t have a steady income.”
She learned of St. Catherine’s through a friend and couldn’t be more grateful. “St. Catherine’s is a God-send to me.” She would know after going through other health centers. She summed up St. Catherine’s by saying, “they listen to you and they work with you; they try to do what they can and get you where you need to go.”
“You write fast,” she said, commenting on my scribbling. “I’m the youngest of 6, so I always have to be fast,” I responded. “I’m the oldest of 6!” she excitedly told me. And there is was – a connection between a sophomore at St. Joseph’s University, unaware of many of the ills caused by lack of insurance and an uninsured, low-income woman, her eyes open to things I cannot yet grasp. I just thank her for sharing a part of her story with me and say a silent prayer for her.
Susan is a small business owner with asthma whose breathing was worsening from a cold. When we examined Susan, we found that her wheezing was only part of the story; pneumonia was the hidden menace to her health. We started Susan on antibiotics and full asthma treatment, and within days she was feeling much better and did not miss a day of work. If Susan didn't have access to care at St. Catherine’s, she would undoubtedly have become far more ill, ended up in the ER and most likely would have been admitted to the hospital.
Fay was discharged from the hospital with a stack of prescriptions to treat her congestive heart failure. She could not return to work as pastor of her church because she was still so short of breath. Although Fay couldn't walk fifteen feet without resting to catch her breath, she was considered stable enough to discharge from the hospital. The hospital suggested that she contact St. Catherine’s for continuing care. After following her treatment plan, Fay is back to work, preaching and serving the needs of others, and our ongoing care has kept her of the hospital.
Michael is disabled at age 63 by multiple chronic health problems, yet he still volunteers for a social service program for the elderly. Although he just started receiving Social Security Disability, he was in the two-year (uninsured) waiting period for Medicare, and could not afford his insulin or multiple other medications. When Michael arrived at St. Catherine’s, he was seriously ill and dangerously close to diabetic coma from his high blood sugar level. The medical staff worked diligently to get Michael stabilized and Michael required no further hospital care during the time he was our patient.
Maria lost her job as a nursing assistant and then her home, after a car accident. She became severely depressed, and was living in a homeless shelter. Her her diabetes and blood pressure spiraled out of control until she was too ill to even look for work. Maria's experience with the staff and care at St. Catherine’s restored her health and today she has an apartment, a job and health insurance.
John had three hospitalizations in two months for his asthma. Unable to afford his medications, his disease was unchecked, and upon the third hospitalization he was in complete respiratory failure and required artificial ventilation. At only 45 years old, John nearly became one of the statistics that show the uninsured often die early and preventable deaths. Upon discharge, John had only prescriptions for very expensive medications and our phone number. Knowing he had a critical need for life-sustaining medications, we saw John the day after he called us, but already his lungs were in trouble. We provided John with all of the medications he required including oral medications, multiple inhalers, and a nebulizer machine. These medications cost far more than John, or any of our patients, could possibly afford, yet like so many of our patients, these medications are not optional -- they are critical and life-saving.
Unemployed and without insurance for the last 2 years, Anne had been experiencing chest pains on and off for more than a year. Having been hospitalized for these pains, she was referred to a clinic but couldn’t afford to go. Anne was referred to St. Catherine’s by a friend and diagnosed as having had a heart attack while shoveling snow. Instead of going to the hospital, Anne thought she had the flu and went to bed for several days to recover. In addition to the medications Anne needed to treat her heart, she also received detailed counseling regarding nutrition and exercise in order to restore and maintain her health. The medical staff spent extra time with Anne to make sure she understood her medications and how critical it was to change her diet. Anne is no longer skeptical about the clinic. She is quoted as saying “This place is very different, it’s not like other clinics. People are warm, friendly and really do care about each of the patients.”
Amanda attributes the clinic to saving her life. A patient at St. Catherine’s for approximately 2 years, she lost her job along with her insurance almost 2 1/2 years ago and has been unable to find a job since. Referred to St. Catherine’s by a nurse caring for her after knee surgery, Amanda didn’t know how sick she really was. When she arrived at the clinic, Amanda only knew that her high blood pressure was not stabilized; despite her medication.
After an initial exam and subsequent visits, Amanda learned that she also suffered from a sleep disorder, thyroid problems and needed to see a cardiologist for congestive heart failure. The medical staff at St. Catherine’s was quick to respond by stabilizing her blood pressure then monitoring it on a regular basis along with her medications. In collaboration with Albert Einstein Medical Center, St. Catherine’s staff was able to promptly get Amanda under the care of a cardiologist. Today, Amanda is living a normal and healthy life and doesn’t know what she would have done without the help of St. Catherine’s. Eternally grateful for their care, Amanda is sure that without that care she would not be alive to share her story today.
Kevin watched as St. Catherine’s “saved his fiancée’s life." He lost his insurance when he lost his job almost 2 years ago and hadn’t been to the doctor for years. Preventative care was not something Kevin ever considered important. Through the care that Kevin has received, he now recognizes the importance of taking care of yourself and says that this is a lesson he will carry with him for the rest of his life. In addition, Kevin has also gotten past his fear of needles with the help of our nursing staff. Kevin searches everyday for a new job and prays employment will come quickly. However, he knows when that happens he will need to find a new place to seek medical care. Kevin is comforted by the fact that the medical staff has ensured him a smooth transition to a new medical office and will make certain he is in good hands with his new doctor.
In June, 2009, Jennifer lost her job along with her medical insurance. She is still unemployed, finding she is often over qualified for the positions she is seeking. With multiple medical issues in her past including breast cancer and high blood pressure, Jennifer went three months without her blood pressure medication because she could no longer afford it without medical insurance. When she arrived at the clinic, Jennifer’s blood pressure was completely out of control and she was severely depressed as a result of her unemployment and medical situation. The medical staff went to work immediately to get her blood pressure under control and get her back on her medication. As her blood pressure came down and her daily stress about medical care was alleviated, Jennifer’s depression started to lift. St. Catherine’s takes pride in not just treating the medical problems our patients face but also the psychosocial aspects of being unemployed. Jennifer describes the staff at the clinic as “friends”. They make her feel better just walking through the door.
Unable to access medications, Rachel was hospitalized for Heart Failure. Referred to St. Catherine’s for care after discharge, she became short of breath walking to the exam room, her blood pressure was 188/124, and her legs were full of excess fluid. We agreed to treat Rachel on an intensive outpatient basis rather than readmit her to the hospital. We followed her closely, adjusting her medications as needed to keep her out of Heart Failure, and there is no doubt that Rachel would not have remained out of the hospital had she not received the high-level medical therapy that we provided for her. This not only saved many health care dollars, Rachel was able to help her daughter settle in for her first year at college; an important milestone for mother and daughter.
Mr. J. was referred to St. Catherine’s after a hospital stay for a infected wound that wasn’t healing and was left untreated due to lack of health insurance. When Mr. J. came to St. Catherine’s, we examined his wound and determined that he needed to be treated with an additional round of antibiotics. He was provided the necessary antibiotics to complete the healing process through our patient assistance program. During Mr. J’s follow-up visit, his labs showed that he was in the pre-diabetic range, his cholesterol was very high and he had an elevated blood pressure (BP). We counseled Mr. J. on dietary changes he could make toward a healthier lifestyle and started him on an exercise regimen. To date, Mr. J. has been motivated and compliant with these changes, and now his sugar and cholesterol levels are in the normal range; his BP is controlled with only a low dose of blood pressure medication, and he exercises 3 to 4 days a week. His leg has completely healed and Mr. J. is wearing compression stockings daily to prevent swelling and further wounds from occurring.
Maggie is a long-time patient with asthma, high blood pressure, mild diabetes and high lipids. Maggie’s husband is disabled and, while waiting for a kidney transplant, they live on his social security income. Maggie’s medications, even with the new $4/month generic programs, total over $500 per month for these diseases. Clearly it would be impossible for Maggie to afford these life-sustaining medications, and no doubt she would not have remained in excellent health these past years without the care she received at St. Catherine’s.
When Andrea arrived at St. Catherine’s, it was apparent that something was terribly wrong. Without health insurance, she was struggling to find the appropriate care needed to diagnose and treat her medical condition. She had seen a doctor but was told to secure medical insurance and then come back. Like so many others, Andrea was denied medical assistance and received no further care. Andrea’s abdomen was severely distended and looked like she was 9 months pregnant at the age of 58. The medical staff at St. Catherine’s quickly ascertained that an ovarian tumor was the probable diagnosis through their medical exam, history and lab testing. Further testing was needed to confirm this diagnosis and with the assistance of the Albert Einstein Charity Medical Care Program, Andrea was able to have a CT scan that confirmed the diagnosis of an ovarian tumor. The medical staff reacted immediately and began to secure her specialty care. We are happy to report that Andrea had the surgery that removed a 34-pound tumor and she will continue to live a normal life. If not for the persistence of the medical staff and support of the Charity Care Program, Andrea would still be facing probable death and most certain continued illness had the tumor not been removed.
After experiencing back pain and a visit to the Emergency Room, Carrie was told she was fine and to follow up with a doctor. Perhaps because she was not insured, Carrie was not told to see a cardiologist. When Carrie arrived to St. Catherine’s, she complained of increasing shortness of breath. On examination, Carrie’s heart rhythm sounded abnormal and an EKG was done, revealing the underlying problem of her symptoms. Our practitioners felt that Carrie was able to be treated on an outpatient basis with close follow-up, and medications were started to treat Carrie’s presumptive early heart failure. She was to return the following week and an urgent appointment was also made with the Cardiology department at Einstein for the following week. Unfortunately, the snowstorms we experienced prevented Carrie from getting to our office as she waited an hour for a bus that never came.
Before she was able to make another appointment, she called complaining of chest pains and we sent her to Einstein’s emergency room. After an acute event was ruled out, Carrie's physician contacted St. Catherine's before discharging her. After learning the whole history of her symptoms, she was admitted to the hospital for a cardiac workup of her heart failure. Carrie’s heart function was found to be tremendously decreased, most likely a result of longstanding uncontrolled high blood pressure. Thanks to the relationship St. Catherine’s has formed with the specialists at Einstein, Carrie will also benefit from the care of a heart failure specialist who will see her pro bono in the hosptial's Heart Failure Clinic . With the treatment she will receive in St. Catherine’s Heart Failure Intervention Program, Carrie’s heart function should greatly improve over time and she will remain out of the hospital.
Jack is a 38 year old who arrived at St. Catherine with uncontrolled diabetes and hyperlipidemia. He also smoked an entire pack of cigarettes a day and had been off all his medications for two years because they cost too much. Upon arrival, the medical staff evaluated his current state of health and prescribed appropriate medications to control his diabetes, protect his kidney function and protect his heart. As part of our Heart Disease Prevention and Smoking Session Programs, he worked with the medical staff on a plan to stop smoking and met with our nutritional counselor to get his diet under control. He was placed in our Diabetes Intervention Program where he was closely monitored and we are extremely happy to report that Jack now has an A1C level of 6.4 (target goal is less than 7). In addition, Jack is using a nicotine patch to help him stop smoking, his lipids are within normal range and he has lost 18 pounds. If not for immediate intervention of the clinic medical staff, Jack would have likely suffered a heart attack and would not be on the road to recovery. Most certainly he would not have been able to afford the many medications he now receives from the clinic at no charge.
Sherri would have left two young children behind had we not recognized the spot on her shoulder required immediate biopsy and then advocated for emergency treatment at the University of Pennsylvania. She was diagnosed with the most lethal form of melanoma. The world-renowned specialists were amazed by her positive outcome…a delay of even a week would have been the difference between cure and death. Sherri’s husband was so grateful that he insisted we accept a portion of his economic stimulus rebate as a donation. This family struggles with so little materially, yet this man felt the clinic’s survival was more important than anything he could buy.