MARTIN COUNTY, FL--People with health insurance can usually afford medical treatment if they discover they have breast cancer. And people who qualify for medicaid and medicare can get assistance to cover their medical expenses.
But what about people who don't have health insurance. A program started in Martin County that has provided medical services for people who might otherwise "fall between the cracks" in medical care.
Four years ago when Kathleen Peterman was diagnosed with breast cancer she had a job and health insurance for treatment. But then, like lots of people, she was affected by the economic downturn.
Kathleen Peterman, survivor: "After that I wasn't working any more and I didn't have insurance and a friend of mine told me about Volunteers in Medicine."
Elizabeth Tsarnas, ARNP, Clinical Director, Volunteers in Medicine: "Volunteers in Medicine is a primary care clinic that provides services for patients without charge. We screen patients for eligibility. They must fall below 200% of the Federal poverty level. They cannot have health insurance, Medicaid or Medicare."
The organization has 35 volunteer practitioners, 30 nurses and 35 lay volunteers who provide not only general medical care, urology, orthopedics, ENT, and ophthalmology, but also provide women's health care.
Elizabeth Tsarnas: "Every woman who becomes a patient here goes through our women's health program. Every woman gets a breast exam. They they're set up. If they're over age of 40 or have a family history of breast cancer, of course they get it younger. They're set up for a mammogram which they receive at Martin Memorial."
Then the unthinkable happened to Kathleen.
Kathleen: "About 4 ½ months ago Elizabeth here at Volunteers in Medicine discovered a lump in my right breast and they sent me for the mammogram and the ultrasounds and found out that it was cancer."
Kathleen, had surgery and seven weeks of radiation treatment, free of charge.
Kathleen: "Truthfully I thank God for them everyday because if it wasn't for volunteers in Medicine I probably wouldn't be here today."
For more information on Volunteers in Medicine contact the Susan G. Komen for the Cure helpline at 1-800-IM-AWARE 1-800-462-9273.
