FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2008
Contact: Jim Arnold, 317-826-4518
On the web: www.pamhickman.org
St. Francis Neighborhood Health Center: another project supported by Pamela Hickman.
The sisters of St Francis realized in the late 1990's that more and more patients were showing up in the emergency room and sometime for the same compliant without taking prescribed medications. The problem was a growing population of uninsured patients who could not afford their medications or regular doctor's office visits. It did not take much convincing of the St Francis family to agree that this was in line with the St. Francis mission.
To get started, money needed to be raised. Pamela Hickman, wife of Cardiologist Dr. Buzz Hickman, stepped up to help lead this campaign. Some money was raised, building was renovated and The St Francis Neighborhood Health Center was born.
The Medical Director, Dr. Mercy Obeime, will tell you that it was not even six months after the Clinic started before she realized that the complexity of the patients and the degree of resource limitation of the patients needed immediate expansion of the services provided. She immediately went to Pamela Hickman. She described her vision of the clinic to Pam not knowing that this casual discussion would change the life of so many. When talking about the role Pam played in the clinic, Dr Obeime stated, "If what I have done in the clinic has made a difference, then Pam Hickman deserves most of the credit. From that first conversation to this day, Pam has been there, usually behind the scenes, encouraging me and making sure we have what we need to do the work that needs to be done to care for so many."
Twelve years later, the center continues to serve adults and families living near its facility at 234 E. Southern Ave., but the scope of the care and support the current staff provides goes far beyond what anyone could have imagined. "During the past 12 years, I have watched the clinic grow from three paid staff members and volunteers to a staff of more than 20. I am thankful for the support of the St. Francis family, the Wishard Advantage Program, the state health department and other agencies and donors--with their support, we have served thousands of patients," said medical director Mercy Obeime, M.D.
Associate Medical Director, Dr. Aasha Trowbridge, says this of Pamela Hickman "I had no idea who Mercy referred to when she said one day, she needed to call Pam to see if she can help us. But as soon as she told me she was Dr. Hickman's wife I was not surprised about anything Mercy told me. Today, of all the specialists we refer our uninsured patients to, no other specialists sees as many or as complicated patients as Dr Hickman's group. As though this was not enough, they always call us asking to see if there is any thing else they can do to help."
This is the kind of rich leadership Pam Hickman will bring to the Indiana House Representatives in District 87. This kind of leadership has been lacking the last six years in District 87.
"The voters who live in Washington Township, Hamilton County and Zionsville deserve better accountability in the Legislature. I will bring this same fiscal responsibility to the State of Indiana as I did with the Neighborhood Health Care Clinic. A vote for me on November 4th will be a vote for improved government."
# # #
September 28, 2008
Contact: Jim Arnold, 317-826-4518
On the web: www.pamhickman.org
St. Francis Neighborhood Health Center: another project supported by Pamela Hickman.
The sisters of St Francis realized in the late 1990's that more and more patients were showing up in the emergency room and sometime for the same compliant without taking prescribed medications. The problem was a growing population of uninsured patients who could not afford their medications or regular doctor's office visits. It did not take much convincing of the St Francis family to agree that this was in line with the St. Francis mission.
To get started, money needed to be raised. Pamela Hickman, wife of Cardiologist Dr. Buzz Hickman, stepped up to help lead this campaign. Some money was raised, building was renovated and The St Francis Neighborhood Health Center was born.
The Medical Director, Dr. Mercy Obeime, will tell you that it was not even six months after the Clinic started before she realized that the complexity of the patients and the degree of resource limitation of the patients needed immediate expansion of the services provided. She immediately went to Pamela Hickman. She described her vision of the clinic to Pam not knowing that this casual discussion would change the life of so many. When talking about the role Pam played in the clinic, Dr Obeime stated, "If what I have done in the clinic has made a difference, then Pam Hickman deserves most of the credit. From that first conversation to this day, Pam has been there, usually behind the scenes, encouraging me and making sure we have what we need to do the work that needs to be done to care for so many."
Twelve years later, the center continues to serve adults and families living near its facility at 234 E. Southern Ave., but the scope of the care and support the current staff provides goes far beyond what anyone could have imagined. "During the past 12 years, I have watched the clinic grow from three paid staff members and volunteers to a staff of more than 20. I am thankful for the support of the St. Francis family, the Wishard Advantage Program, the state health department and other agencies and donors--with their support, we have served thousands of patients," said medical director Mercy Obeime, M.D.
Associate Medical Director, Dr. Aasha Trowbridge, says this of Pamela Hickman "I had no idea who Mercy referred to when she said one day, she needed to call Pam to see if she can help us. But as soon as she told me she was Dr. Hickman's wife I was not surprised about anything Mercy told me. Today, of all the specialists we refer our uninsured patients to, no other specialists sees as many or as complicated patients as Dr Hickman's group. As though this was not enough, they always call us asking to see if there is any thing else they can do to help."
This is the kind of rich leadership Pam Hickman will bring to the Indiana House Representatives in District 87. This kind of leadership has been lacking the last six years in District 87.
"The voters who live in Washington Township, Hamilton County and Zionsville deserve better accountability in the Legislature. I will bring this same fiscal responsibility to the State of Indiana as I did with the Neighborhood Health Care Clinic. A vote for me on November 4th will be a vote for improved government."
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