October 27th 2024.
As a teenager, Chelsie Rasmussen found herself in a difficult situation. She was pregnant, without a job, and in need of medical care that accepted Medicaid. After searching for a suitable medical office, she stumbled upon Doctors Care clinic in Littleton. Little did she know, this would be the beginning of a journey filled with support and guidance as she navigated through her son's rare neurological disorder diagnosis.
Initially, Rasmussen had only been looking for the right care for her newborn, but Doctors Care became so much more than that to her. She shared, "I never imagined that it would become such an integral part of our lives." The support she received from Doctors Care went beyond just healthcare. They provided her with food assistance, education, and a sense of community.
Founded in 1988, Doctors Care was created by doctors in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Elbert counties who were struggling to serve the growing number of uninsured individuals in need of medical care. Dr. Gary VanderArk, a neurosurgeon and member of the Arapahoe Medical Society, saw a solution in which all doctors in the area could take on a few uninsured patients to alleviate the problem. This idea eventually grew into the nonprofit organization known as Doctors Care, with CEO Bebe Kleinman at the helm for the past 25 years.
The Denver Post Season To Share is an annual holiday fundraising campaign that supports The Denver Post Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Through grants, they aid local nonprofit agencies that offer life-changing programs to help low-income individuals and families move out of poverty and towards self-sufficiency. According to Kleinman, many of the founding physicians of Doctors Care are still active supporters and donors to this day.
Kleinman led us through the clinic, describing it as a comprehensive and integrated model of healthcare. They not only provide basic primary care but also offer behavioral health services and connect individuals to other resources such as housing, food, and life skills programs. Their staff and volunteers also help clients obtain insurance coverage, whether it's through Medicaid or Connect for Health Colorado.
While Doctors Care has doctors and healthcare professionals on staff, they also rely on a core group of volunteers to provide medical and other services. Kleinman proudly shared that they have about eight volunteer physicians, most of whom are retired primary care doctors. Some specialists also dedicate their time to the clinic, and their efforts are supported by the Colorado Physicians Insurance Co. (Copic), which provides liability coverage for the volunteer doctors.
In addition to their medical services, Doctors Care also partners with other organizations to provide outreach through promotoras, trusted community members who educate people about healthcare and spread awareness about the clinic. The clinic's frontline staff is also bilingual, able to communicate with Spanish-speaking clients.
Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2014, the number of uninsured individuals in the community has decreased. However, due to recent changes in Medicaid qualifications after the COVID-19 health emergency, the number has risen again. Kleinman noted that about 22% of their patients are currently uninsured, making charity and donations even more crucial in keeping their doors open.
Rasmussen expressed her gratitude towards Doctors Care, saying they have been with her and her family every step of the way since her son, Nathanyal, was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome. Her son's frequent hospital visits in his first few months of life were initially attributed to his premature birth until Rasmussen and Sue Covington, a physician's assistant at Doctors Care, pushed for genetic testing. At 11 days old, Nathanyal was diagnosed with the rare neurological disorder, which causes seizures, developmental and physical delays, sleep issues, and difficulty communicating. Now 11 years old, Nathanyal is in a wheelchair and relies on long-term Medicaid for his medical care. Rasmussen, who is a certified nursing assistant, is his primary caregiver.
Through it all, Doctors Care has been a constant source of support for Rasmussen and her family. She said, "They were there for us during every scary moment in our lives." The clinic's compassion and dedication to their clients is evident in everything they do.
Doctors Care, located at 609 W. Littleton Blvd. in Littleton, has been in operation since 1988 with a team of 27 employees and an annual budget of $2.6 million. In 2023, they served approximately 3,000 unique patients and had a total of 7,000 to 8,000 visits. Their impact on the community is immeasurable, and they continue to provide essential healthcare services to those in need.
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