When Carroll County resident Donna Hanson went to see a doctor about chronic gastrointestinal pain in October, she discovered that her misery had been triggered by a life-threatening heart condition. Doctors unclogged a right artery that was more than 90 percent blocked and inserted a stent.
Then they sent Hanson, who had no medical insurance, away with a new lease on life - and no bill.
Instead of going to a doctor or emergency room, the Westminster resident visited Access Carroll - a medical nonprofit organization that offers free health care to county residents with low incomes and no health insurance.
Hanson joined a growing number of people with no insurance - particularly those who have been laid off during the recession - who have turned to medical nonprofit organizations instead of traditional institutions that often leave them with crushing debt.
"I worked in the medical profession for 30 years," said Hanson, 52, a former medical receptionist who now earns a meager living providing day care for her grandchildren.
"I know enough medically not to ignore symptoms, but when you're uninsured and you don't have the money, what can you do? I had been ignoring [the stomach pains] for quite some time."
That is, until she read about Access Carroll in a local newspaper.
Founded three years ago, Access Carroll provides primary medical care with volunteer physicians and nurses and provides such services as laboratory and radiology testing, referrals to specialists and medications.
The organization is funded by grants and donations from individuals and local businesses. Also, several area medical specialists treat Access Carroll patients in their offices.
The number of patients treated by Access Carroll more than doubled between 2006 and last year, when more than 2,300 patients were seen in 5,700 visits.
"The last several months, people have been coming to us literally saying, 'I can't afford my health insurance anymore because I just lost my job, and I'm a diabetic,' " said Tammy Black, executive director of Access Carroll.
And with the economy projected to continue its downward spiral this year, organizations such as Access Carroll will be in greater demand, Black said.
"Seventy-five percent of our patients are chronically ill, meaning they've been on medication for more than six months for diabetes or heart disease or lung disease or asthma or depression," she said.
