It did for Hanson, a single mother who for years had experienced chronic gastrointestinal pain. In October, the pain became too severe to withstand any longer.
Although electrocardiogram testing revealed no abnormalities, doctors at Access Carroll still weren't satisfied that Hanson's pains were gastrointestinal in nature - in part because for women some heart abnormalities manifest themselves as stomach and back pain.
Moreover, Hanson, a smoker, has a history of heart disease in her family. Both her mother and grandmother died from heart attacks.
She was administered a heart stress test and about four minutes into the test, she said, her heart began beating abnormally.
"It felt like an elephant was standing on my chest, and I couldn't breathe," Hanson said.
The attending physician called 911 and had Hanson rushed to a hospital, where a catheterization revealed a blocked artery. Cummings performed an angioplasty and inserted a heart stent.
"She quickly got a diagnosis that saved her life," Cummings said.
Hanson, who still has some gastrointestinal problems, now has some insurance to cover procedures for that ailment for up to a year. Yet she shudders to think where she would be had she not turned to Access Carroll when she was uninsured.
"I probably would have put it off even more, that's the scary part," she said. "There are so many families in my position who work hard and are barely able to meet the bills. Unless you're with a company that offers insurance, it can be very difficult.
"If I had insurance, I never would have ignored the symptoms. I would have gone to the doctor immediately. But what happened was a strong lesson for me. I won't be ignoring symptoms anymore."
NONPROFIT RESOURCES FOR THE UNINSURED
* Access Carroll offers free health care to uninsured, low-income residents of Carroll County who meet eligibility requirements. 410-871-1478, accesscarroll@verizon.net
* Shepherd's Clinic in Baltimore provides health care to individuals who do not have health insurance and are not eligible for government-assisted health care. 410-467-7146, director@shepherdsclinic.org.
* Mission of Mercy is a nonsectarian organization that provides free medical and dental services and prescription medications to the uninsured working poor, homeless and economically disadvantaged through a mobile clinic that visits Reisterstown, Frederick, Mount Airy and Westminster. 301-682-5683.
