Clinic Provides Care for Poor Children
With the help of Dominican Hospital Foundation donors and others, Dominican fills one of the cracks in the local health care system that lets poor and uninsured babies tumble through the first years of life without basic medical care.
Dominican Hospital Pediatric Clinic opened in 1998 at Dominican Rehab Services on Frederick Street. Well-child visits, sick visits, consultative evaluations, immunizations, lab, and X-ray services are offered, among others.
A Dominican Hospital Foundation fundraising campaign helped to start this service for youngsters whose families can't afford the care and whose insurance will not cover expenses.
Dominican Pediatric Clinic fills a recognized gap in local medical care and is not intended to compete with pediatricians in private practice.
Care at the clinic is primarily given by nurse practitioners and physician assistants, with supervision by Dominican Pediatric Medical Director Salem Magarian, MD (and back-up from affiliated pediatricians). The clinic is located on the third floor of Dominican Rehabilitation Services, immediately adjacent to the Hospital's highly successful Prenatal Services program for low-income pregnant women and the Stanford-staffed pediatric specialty clinics. Sister Michaella Siplak, Dominican's director of Outreach Services, manages the clinic.
Dominican's mission is to reach out to those in need, and the Pediatric Clinic is a natural fit. Since the clinic is Dominican-based, there are social workers, case workers, dietitians, and radiology techs in the wings. When necessary, the children can be seen by Stanford specialists regularly on-site in Dominican's Pediatric Subspecialty Clinics. All Dominican programs maintain close working ties with local schools and family support services.
A Wee Bit Helps a Whole Bunch
Dominican Hospital and its Foundation are committed to the health of our community's youngsters, but must rely on donations to keep programs such as the Pediatric Clinic thriving and serving those in need.
A donation of $105 provides the needed subsidy to supply one child with medical care for an entire year.
Call Dominican Hospital Foundation, (831) 462-7712, for information about the WeeCare program.
