For Patients In Poverty
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Hi Everyone! My name is Arthur. I am a home care physical therapist working in the southeastern Pennsylvania region in and around Philadelphia.
As a home care physical therapist, I work closely with physicians, nurses, social workers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and dietitians to help my patients achieve their health and wellness goals.
The population I work with are older individuals (typically 75+ and a handful of 90+ years of age) with poor social support and funding.
During these last two years, I have discovered that health insurance companies make it increasingly difficult for patients to receive the medical equipment they need to self-manage their condition or to be safe in their environment. With no additional funds and no family to help, some of these patients are left without the resources to get better.
Recently, I have taken it upon myself to purchase a blood pressure device ($30) for a patient due to her insurance refusing to purchase one for her. For another patient who is 91 years old with dementia, I shopped for a shower chair through the Facebook Market place and Craigslist. I also purchased a platform walker attachment ($49) for another patient who sustained a stroke.
** MY GOALS **
1) I am building a free rental inventory for my patients to temporarily use until their insurance funds their equipment (a process that can take a couple weeks to a couple months). During this time, patients may fall and injure themselves placing them back in the hospital! During this time, my patient who had a stroke could lose 2 important weeks that he will never get back in his narrow window of recovery.
2) If insurance doesn't pull through within a reasonable time, I plan on donating items to my patients on a case by case basis.
I believe timely intervention is key to reducing further medical costs for both individuals and the system as a whole.
Any support will be appreciated.
-Arthur
As a home care physical therapist, I work closely with physicians, nurses, social workers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and dietitians to help my patients achieve their health and wellness goals.
The population I work with are older individuals (typically 75+ and a handful of 90+ years of age) with poor social support and funding.
During these last two years, I have discovered that health insurance companies make it increasingly difficult for patients to receive the medical equipment they need to self-manage their condition or to be safe in their environment. With no additional funds and no family to help, some of these patients are left without the resources to get better.
Recently, I have taken it upon myself to purchase a blood pressure device ($30) for a patient due to her insurance refusing to purchase one for her. For another patient who is 91 years old with dementia, I shopped for a shower chair through the Facebook Market place and Craigslist. I also purchased a platform walker attachment ($49) for another patient who sustained a stroke.
** MY GOALS **
1) I am building a free rental inventory for my patients to temporarily use until their insurance funds their equipment (a process that can take a couple weeks to a couple months). During this time, patients may fall and injure themselves placing them back in the hospital! During this time, my patient who had a stroke could lose 2 important weeks that he will never get back in his narrow window of recovery.
2) If insurance doesn't pull through within a reasonable time, I plan on donating items to my patients on a case by case basis.
I believe timely intervention is key to reducing further medical costs for both individuals and the system as a whole.
Any support will be appreciated.
-Arthur
Organizer
Art Ngo
Organizer
Upper Darby, PA
