According to recent studies, more and more Hispanics lack access to consistent and timely health care. The Methodist Hospital and Denver Harbor Clinic are initiating a unique program to help address this issue on Houston’s east side.
By July, Denver Harbor Clinic will become the primary care clinic for Methodist’s 17 family medicine residents, physicians who have completed medical school and are specializing further in the practice of family medicine. Currently, five of these medical residents provide care to patients at the clinic, under the supervision of Dr. Donald Briscoe, medical director of the clinic and residency director of Methodist’s Family Medicine Residency Program.
“There is a dire need for medical attention in our community, especially within the Hispanic population,” said Cathy Easter, vice president of operations at Methodist. ”If these Houstonians can’t get to the care they need, we’ll take it to them. We are truly excited about this relationship with Denver Harbor Clinic.”
The clinic is constructing a new building with 10 exam rooms next to its current facility to accommodate the residency program and to support the growing demand for medical care in the Denver Harbor community. Denver Harbor is an urban Hispanic community east of downtown with a population of nearly 28,000.
“The Methodist Hospital’s presence will double the number of individuals served within the year and significantly expand the breadth and depth of assistance offered at Denver Harbor,” said Daniel Montez, CEO at Denver Harbor Clinic. “This new facility will allow us to better serve the members of this community.”
The facility expansion will be a stand alone, two-story 9,360 square foot structure. With the additional space and Methodist residents, patient visits are expected to jump from approximately 4,000 in 2005 to 7,500 in 2006 and 11,000 by 2007. Montez said he expects the clinic to see nearly 6,000 new patients next year.
Through this partnership, Methodist also provides funding and in-kind services, including X-rays, immunizations and laboratory tests. 
Through its community benefits program, Methodist also supports 21 other community agencies and clinics.
Denver Harbor Clinic
Denver Harbor Clinic is a community based health center in Houston providing quality health care to the underserved. Founded in 1999, the clinic applies business principals to address Hispanic health care disparities and spur neighborhood economic development Denver Harbor Clinic is the first of several envisioned for Houston Community Health Center, Inc., a private non-profit organization.
The Methodist Hospital
The Methodist Hospital is one of the nation’s largest private, non-profit general hospitals. Dedicated to providing the highest level of patient care, Methodist has a 90-year legacy of medical breakthroughs. Part of a system of four hospitals and a research institute, Methodist is primarily affiliated with Weill Medical College of Cornell University and NewYork Presbyterian Hospital. Methodist also is affiliated with the University of Houston.
U.S. News & World Report names Methodist among the country’s top hospitals in seven medical specialties. The hospital was recently named one of FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2006.