Health Clinic Officially Opens In Rockville

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The Reverend Mansfield Kaseman grew weary of burying parishioners at Rockville United Church. Good, hardworking people who didn’t have medical insurance were dying and leaving children behind. His own father died of cancer when he was 39 years old leaving Reverend Kaseman’s mother to raise her children. He was the oldest and remembers living in the parsonage on welfare.

After retiring from Community Ministries of Rockville (CMR), Rev. Kaseman worked to provide healthcare to every uninsured Rockville resident. Yesterday CMR officially dedicated the Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic in his name. Located at 8 West Middle Lane off of North Washington Street, the Clinic helps the most vulnerable in our community, those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Agnes Saenz, CMR Executive Director speaks

The Clinic has been years in the making but coincidentally held its opening ceremony the week after sweeping federal legislation was passed to provide medical coverage for every person in the country. In his opening remarks, Chuck Lee, President of the CMR Board of Directors, said access to healthcare is the right of every individual. He referred to CMR’s clinic as “our two cents” to the federal government as it implements new healthcare reform. Infrastructure will be necessary and the Clinic has the ability to expand. He said, “It’s not just a dream come true. It’s a miracle come true.”

Maryland State Senator Jennie Forehand commented that it was good thing that the State contributed the funds a few years ago because we couldn’t have been able to do it now. She thought the Clinic needed some color so she presented a Maryland flag.

Clinic Director, Francisco Orantes, proudly announced that medical care is now offered to the greater Rockville area Monday through Friday from 9 AM until 5 PM. The Clinic anticipates serving 1,850 patients in 2010. The Clinic also offers referrals for testing/examinations by specialists and for food/clothing in economic emergencies. Dr. Anna Maria Izquierdo the Clinic Medical Director, reported that during the first eight months of operation over 90% of patients surveyed strongly agreed that they received the care wanted and needed. Quite an accomplishment when the national average is 30%. She explained that this endeavor is not about a building but rather it’s about an attempt to bring care to patients the right way.

Rockville Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio has been impressed with Mansfield Kaseman since meeting him years ago. She described him as a man who “had a mission and fulfilled it.” Then added “To anyone who can do it, bravo!”

With the timing of federal health care reform, John Colmers, Secretary of the Maryland Health and Mental Hygiene, sees the Clinic as bricks and mortar. With the opening of the Clinic, CMR will “have the infrastructure and workplace to provide critical care.” He quoted Governor O’Malley that there is “No such thing as a spare Marylander.” We need to keep everyone healthy and we need clinics like this to do it.

Pedro Gutierrez, a patient at the Clinic and resident of Twinbrook, told everyone about his family’s situation and how CMR has helped. Since he owns his own small business, he cannot afford insurance. Suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, the clinic has helped. He’s also benefited from the Obesity and Nutritional Class and joked that he has lost some weight. His wife suffers from asthma and has been helped at the Clinic. She also received assistance in getting a mammogram when she found an unidentified bump which turned out to be benign.

County Councilmember Nancy Floreen, County Executive Ike Leggett with Agnes Saenz and Rev. Mansfield Kaseman

The Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic is a low cost clinic, not a free clinic. Services are provided on a sliding scale based on the federal level of poverty. In addition to basic medical services by doctors and nurse practitioners, they offer classes as part of a health care education initiative for better living. Mental health services will be available starting in July.

As it may be years before every American has medical insurance, it’s good to know the Clinic is open for business and ready to provide health care in our City. As Rev. Kaseman said in his remarks about having a facility named after him “Perhaps best of all. Here I am alive!” The Clinic will work to insure many others with medical emergencies can say the same.

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