Wendy Thompson, a home health worker in Memphis, Tennessee, faced health issues and financial difficulties due to lack of insurance. Despite working two jobs, she found the cost of healthcare overwhelming. This situation is not uncommon in Tennessee, a state that has not expanded Medicaid. Thompson's circumstances improved after meeting Dr. Scott Morris, the founder of Church Health, a medical nonprofit organization.
Dr. Morris, who established Church Health over 35 years ago, included Thompson in a biannual event for eye surgery. He also arranged for her knee to be x-rayed and initiated the process for a potential knee replacement consultation. The cost of these medical procedures was minimal for Thompson, as they were donated by the medical professionals involved.
Church Health operates as a nonprofit charity, relying on donations from Memphis businesses and individuals to fund its $27 million annual budget. The organization accepts limited government funding and does not generate profit. Despite these constraints, it continues to provide essential healthcare services. Dr. Morris founded the organization with the goal of providing care for the underprivileged.
Dr. Morris's interest in medicine and religion inspired him to create Church Health. He is an ordained United Methodist minister and a board-certified family practice physician. After learning about the poverty in Memphis, he started Church Health without any staff or funds. On its first day in 1987, the organization served 12 patients.
Today, Church Health operates from a large facility and employs a full-time paid staff of 250. The organization provides primary, dental, and eye care, as well as behavioral health, nutrition, and wellness services. Over 80,000 Memphis residents depend on the center for their healthcare needs. The success of Church Health is largely due to Dr. Morris's relationships with medical specialists across Memphis who donate their time and services, and with hospitals and clinics that waive costs for Church Health patients without other reimbursement sources.
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