Media

Maybe it’s working more than one job, or not having a job that offers paid time off, or figuring out where your kids will be in the afternoon while you work or grocery shopping or a lack of transportation, or a combination of all of the above, many Kansas City citizens who live in poverty don’t have the time or financial means to see a doctor during normal business business hours.

That’s why Health Forward has helped fund extended hours at a number of Kansas City safety net clinics. The clinics are open late and on weekends, offering more convenient times for people who are already too busy or can’t afford time off during normal operating hours. And now that patients can see a doctor on their schedule, they no longer have to visit the emergency room for more minor injuries and illnesses.

Expanded access has allowed clinics to reach as many people as possible while decreasing the burden on emergency rooms.