MADISON — Our Lady of Hope Clinic announced that it will open its doors to the public for an open house on Tuesday, March 24, from 3 to 7 p.m.
The open house will give southern Wisconsin its first peek at the area’s newest and most unique primary care clinic — and an opportunity to meet the doctors behind it.
Bishop to give blessing
Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison will appear at the open house. Bishop Morlino, who will be on hand to give the clinic his official blessing, has said, “I can’t be more thrilled that we have such a clinic in Madison . . . It’s just a great gift from the Lord.”
Located at 6425 Odana Rd., Suite D, Our Lady of Hope Clinic will offer free outpatient health care to the state’s uninsured population. This service will be funded by benefactors who receive unlimited concierge-style primary care from the clinic in exchange for a modest annual contribution.
All care provided at the clinic will be 100 percent pro-life in accordance with Catholic moral teachings.
On cutting edge
Our Lady of Hope Clinic President Dr. Michael Kloess said this unique model puts Madison on the cutting edge of efforts to address three of the nation’s most daunting health care challenges.
“Forty million Americans go without health insurance each year. Our Lady of Hope Clinic is a grassroots effort to answer this crisis locally,” Kloess said.
“Secondly, by offering our benefactors unparalleled access to a personal physician, we improve quality of care, restore the doctor-patient relationship, and put medical decisions back in the patients’ hands.
“Finally, this clinic model allows Christians to receive care consistent with their beliefs, respecting the dignity of every human life.”
Accessible health care
With the economy slumping, Our Lady of Hope Clinic Physician Anne Volk Johnson believes the need for accessible health care is more critical than ever.
“Each year, one in 10 Wisconsinites goes without health insurance,” Johnson said. “With the current economic downturn, that number is only going to increase. We are grateful for this opportunity to help meet the needs of our community.”
From dream to reality
When Our Lady of Hope Clinic opens on April 2, it will mark the completion of more than 18 months of planning and preparation.
“Over the past year and a half, Our Lady of Hope Clinic has gone from a dream to a reality,” Kloess said. “I am so thankful for our benefactors, donors, and volunteers who stepped up to make this possible. We simply would not have come this far without their leadership.”
Clinic board member David Stiennon echoed Dr. Kloess’ words of gratitude, and solicited assistance for the project.
“We are blessed to have doctors who have responded so generously to this pressing need,” he said. “We ask everyone in the diocese to pray for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of Our Lady of Hope, that we may continue to offer care to the uninsured without charge at this clinic for many years to come.”
For information on how to become a patient at Our Lady of Hope Clinic or how to spread the word about the clinic, contact Steve Karlen at 608-445-2063.