Medicine Cabinet Fills Gap in Emergencies

By Karen Murphy, Director of Marketing and Development
Kansas City's Medicine Cabinet

Record numbers of Kansas Citians are living in poverty. They put their most basic needs on the back burner to feed their families. These same people often go without proper medical and dental care. When everyday health-related items are not affordable, minor ailments go untreated and become major emergencies. Our neighbors and colleagues are making heartbreaking choices about things we take for granted. Prescriptions or groceries? Rent or dental care?

Take six-year-old Jacklyn, for example. Excited to begin kindergarten, Jacklyn and her mother, Shawn, received some unexpected news. Problems with Jacklyn's vision were discovered during a routine baseline vision assessment. But Shawn's weekly unemployment check wouldnÕt be enough to afford an eye exam for Jacklyn, let alone pay for new glasses. With nowhere to turn for help, Jacklyn started school without the glasses she so badly needed. As you would expect, Jacklyn had trouble looking at books. She couldn't see the blackboard clearly. Shawn knew she had to do something – and fast – the morning she saw Jacklyn struggling to put toothpaste on her toothbrush. Then Shawn learned there was a program that could help.

Since 2005, Kansas City's Medicine Cabinet has been filling the gap for short-term emergency medical assistance. Kansas City's Medicine Cabinet uses a voucher system to provide services in five key categories: dental emergencies, diabetic supplies, durable medical equipment, prescriptions and vision care. Services are delivered through eighteen emergency assistance intake sites throughout the metropolitan area.

One of the Medicine Cabinet's partners is St. Luke's Lutheran Church a Medicine Cabinet intake center.When Shawn learned the Medicine Cabinet could help, she immediately made an appointment with Eye Care Optical for an eye exam. "I'm grateful for this assistance," Shawn said. "Jacklyn loves school and now she doesn't have anything standing in her way."

Now in its seventh year, the program has provided over 10,000 Kansas City residents with nearly $1.9 million dollars in direct assistance for diabetic supplies, eyeglasses, prescription medications and more. But the community's need grows daily.

Join Our Health Matters in supporting the Medicine Cabinet's Fourth Annual Kansas City Tip-Off fundraiser concert at the Uptown Theater, Thursday, March 1, 2012, featuring country singer, Josh Turner. Josh will perform some of his No. 1 hits including, "Why Don't We Just Dance" and "All Over Me."

For information visit: www.kcmedicinecabinet.org