Community Benefit Stories
Equipment Donation Aids Diabetes Patients
After Froedtert Hospital upgraded its hospital and clinic glucometers (diabetes testing equipment), the hospital donated $12,000 worth of still-serviceable equipment to Community Med Share Program for free clinics. That meant 23 glucometers and diabetes testing supplies were ready for use as soon as they hit the clinic!
Granville Neighborhood Health Center (GNHC) was one of the clinics to receive the donated equipment. A newly opened free clinic on Milwaukee’s Northwest side run by Risen Savior Lutheran Church, the center provides free health care services to the people of the Granville community who are uninsured. It is a partnership effort with Wisconsin Lutheran College.
According to Melissa Wolfgram, health center coordinator, “For many years, it has been clear that the Granville community is in need of resources and services that are not easily accessible to them. Many families, especially in our own school at Risen Savior, are going without any medical care due to lack of insurance or benefits of any kind.”
The GNHC is currently open one Saturday a month, providing primary health care services including depression screening, child wellness exams and school immunizations, flu immunizations, management of minor illnesses, and management of high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Clinic services are provided in the Risen Savior school gymnasium.
The donation of diabetes testing equipment was critical to helping patients manage this serious chronic disease. “We have a great number of patients who are at risk for diabetes or already have diabetes, but are not managing it at all,” Wolfgram said. “Having the glucometers is a tremendous help. Our funds are very limited and we run completely on donations, grants, and the generosity of volunteers. The glucometers give us the ability to help a great number of patients who otherwise would not receive medical care.”
Last Review Date: Oct. 23, 2009 Online Editor(s): Richard Petre |