Screenings were conducted for conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, heart risk, dental health, and vision. Approximately 30-40 people were screened each month. Along with this, free health information lectures were also conducted. As physicians identified conditions and illnesses through the screenings, they quickly recognized that a majority of those screened had no health insurance or physician to see for follow up care. While federally qualified clinics were one solution in the community, the demand for services in them was so great that patients reported waits of six or more weeks to get an appointment. Therefore the physicians took it upon themselves to develop an additional solution. The result was the creation of Compassionate Care Network (CCN), a network of 12 physicians initially with one lab.

Over time this network has grown to over 120 providers (primary care and specialists), 6 medical labs, and 13 imaging centers, who support the notion of “compassionate care” and voluntarily offer services to the uninsured at discounted rates. Additionally, providers in Dentistry, Optometry Chiropractic care; Physical Therapy and Podiatry have become part of the network.
CCN volunteers now also include nurses, phlebotomists, medical students, college and high school students and community workers who shoulder different responsibilities from doing blood tests to helping with registration and CCN enrollment. CCN’s free health Screenings are held weekly and spread out at various community locations including mosques, churches and community centers.

Patients pay a flat fee of $25.00 for primary care office visits, $35.00 for
specialist consultations and can choose their physician based on language and location preferences. There is a small enrollment fee of $10.00/month for individuals and $15.00/ month for families, which is waived for hardship cases. Periodic open enrollments are offered when people can join for free for periods of 4-12 months. Enrollment is open to everyone who has no health insurance and has annual income of less than 400% of poverty guideline. This translates to an income limit of $32K for individuals and $77K for a family of four. There are no restrictions for pre existing conditions and any legal status is welcome. An ID card is issued at the time of enrollment to access the discounted services.

Since its inception over six years ago much has changed at CCN and around the country. 2010 has witnessed major changes in the American health care scene. We saw the passage of historic health care reform with the promise of enabling 32 million uninsured Americans access to affordable health care by 2014. Pre existing conditions for children and lifetime caps for all are no longer qualifiers to worry about. The prescription drug donut hole is beginning to close. Although our goal of universal health care remains unrealized, our hope and our struggle for it will continue. At CCN we continue to believe that access to affordable health care should be a right for all and cannot be a privilege for some.

During the last twelve months CCN has continued to expand its programs and increase its area of service. CCN’s teams of volunteer professionals, students and community helpers are now offering free health screenings from Homewood in the south to Kenosha WI in the north and from Rogers Park in the east to Elgin in the west. Our emphasis at all these screenings continues to be on diabetes, hypertension, obesity, heart risk, vision and dental health, by far the major budget breakers within our health care systems.

There are many issues, which compound the problem of health care access for the uninsured. Lack of easily available information about health care resources within their neighborhoods Is one of them. Through a Handbook published annually CCN provides information about some of these resources including information on community clinics, useful health care websites and a list of speakers willing to provide free health education in the community.

Over 2,500 individuals are currently enrolled in the network and are gaining access to affordable health care through the private offices of physicians, dentists, chiropractors,
optometrists, physical therapists and podiatrists. Several labs and imaging centers in the network also provide much needed financial relief to the patients whom they serve. A growing number of Home Health Agencies have also become our partners in the network. As the capacity of our network increases, we believe we will be in a stronger position to serve a greater number of people in need.

The challenges for delivering health care within our communities with an eye on cost and quality are indeed significant. A passion to serve and a willingness to give back defines the character of those who enter this field. We are forever grateful to our providers for their compassion and their care. Without them this idea would not become a reality.

Ayesha Sultana, MD.
President

Azher Quader, MD.
Executive Director

Compassionate Care Network
6348 N. Milwaukee Ave, #215
Chicago, IL 60646
www.ccnchicago.com