Clinica Tepeyac aids Hispanic community

By Paul Willis, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 26, 2007 at 12:30 a.m.

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Photo by Javier Manzano © The Rocky

Maria Mena, 52, has her temperature taken by Alejandra Padilla, a nurse at ClÃnica Tepeyac, last week. ClÃnica Tepeyac is a walk-in clinic in north Denver whose aim is to provide health care to uninsured members of the metro area's Hispanic community.

Clínica Tepeyac Executive Director David Lack has been in the nonprofit health care business for 25 years. He joined the clinic, which serves the health needs of Denver's uninsured Hispanic community, in 2005. The clinic expanded in December, allowing it to nearly double the clients it serves. In this interview, Lack talked about the expansion and the pressing needs of his clients.

Increased facilities have enabled you to serve about 8,000 more clients this year. Talk about the upgrades.

The original Clínica Tepeyac building had three exams rooms and a total of 1,100 square feet. The new, 4,000-square-foot clinic has seven exam rooms, a large, comfortable waiting room, a larger lab and dispensary, two charting stations for providers, and even a large conference room. We have also added medical services in the new clinic, such a prenatal care, colorectal screening and primary care for HIV/AIDS clients.

How does Clínica Tepeyac compare to some of your previous nonprofit endeavors, such as the Alternative Homes for Youth?

The rewards of leading this organization as executive director are great. I look forward each day to my work, because I know that we are making a positive difference in the health of the community and its most vulnerable families. Clínica Tepeyac is a growing, thriving organization serving a population without access to health care. One of the most satisfying aspects of my position at Clínica Tepeyac is the commitment to the mission of the organization.

Other than providing health care, what types of services or help do you offer Hispanic clients?

As a gateway to health for the uninsured, the mission of Clínica Tepeyac is to provide high quality primary health care in an atmosphere of linguistic and cultural competency. Equally important, we also provide preventive health information and education to the community we serve - in homes, schools, churches, community centers, etc. We help people understand the importance of regular medical care.

Is there a particular case that stands out to you that epitomizes Clínica Tepeyac truly making a difference?

One concerns an uninsured young mother of two little girls. The family could only afford insurance for the daughters. The mother attended one of our community education programs on breast health, where she learned to do a breast self-examination. In that learning process, she actually detected a lump. She was referred to the clinic where she received a mammogram and further diagnostic services. She was diagnosed with breast cancer, and Clínica Tepeyac arranged her treatment. As a result of early detection, this young mother is a cancer survivor.

In what way would increased funding be most beneficial to the clinic?

Clínica Tepeyac's capacity to meet the enormous need in the community is limited in part by funding. Virtually 100 percent of our patients fall below the poverty level, so we keep our fees very low. Patients pay only $10 for a visit to the clinic, and the fees collected comprise under 10 percent of our operating costs.

We rely on the financial generosity of foundations, corporations and individuals to provide the necessary funding. Increased funding means we can see more patients and provide more life- enhancing medical services.

Clínica Tepeyac

* Mission: To serve as the gateway to health for the uninsured Hispanic population of metro Denver.

* Founded: 1994

* People helped: 18,000

* Staff: 16

* Volunteers: 200

* Budget: $1.25 million

* Web site: clinicatepeyac.org

• November 27, 2007

  10:10 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  hm writes:

  better make sure each one you treat (18 or older) is LEGAL here...and make sure it is ten dollars to all ethnic groups too....

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