Recent data shows that the CARES Occupational and Physical Therapy Clinic provides an estimated $60,000 worth of indigent care per year. This estimate is based on the fact that over a six-month period (December 2011 to May 2012), the CARES Therapy Clinic provided 385 patient visits. An estimate of billing provided by OT and PT therapy visits using Medicare billing codes suggests the clinic could have billed $24,410 in charges over the six month time period. Additionally, patients received equipment valued at approximately $5,000 including two customized wheelchairs.

The clinic is also decreasing costly visits to the ER.  Of the patients seen for initial evaluations during the six-month time period, 47 percent indicated that they would have sought care at the emergency room if they could not have been seen in the CARES Therapy Clinic. Further analysis of the cost savings from patients that did not need to be seen in the ER is being completed.

According to faculty advisor Patty Coker-Bolt, PhD, OTR/L, “This economic data says that we are helping reduce overall healthcare costs to the local community and helping those most in need receive occupational and physical therapy services that could help them be more functional and independent, and have a better overall quality of life.”

Written by: Jess House

Khasim is a 17 year old high school senior that came to CARES clinic with a diagnosis of transverse myelitis a couple of months ago. Khasim is the rockstar of CARES as he first arrived in a wheelchair that didn’t fit and is now walking around with crutches or a walker part of the time. With the help of PHC Medical, Khasim was set up with a customized wheelchair that allows him to get around the community and to his classes a lot easier. 
What really sets Khasim apart is his determination and willingness to try anything we throw at him. When asked if he is ready to try something new, Khasim always responds “I was born ready!” Since staring therapy at CARES, Khasim is a lot more independent, walking further distances, up and down stairs and standing with his crutches to cook for himself. Khasim recently participated in the adaptive water ski clinic and started playing wheelchair basketball as well! 
Khasim is also an amazing teacher to the student clinicians at CARES, helping them to learn more about his diagnosis, living with a neurological condition and even about his Dominica culture. We are really excited to continue working with Khasim and seeing how much further he will go!

Darren Vance, originally from Toronto, Ontario, moved to Charleston in 2003. He completed his physiotherapy degree at McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario in 1998. He has been practicing for 14 years and is currently the Director of the downtown Summerville location of SportsPlus Physical Therapy. 

Q: Why did you want to become a PT?
A: I wanted a profession that would allow me to influence the health and wellbeing of patients while providing the opportunity for lifelong learning, travel and diverse professional opportunities.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of the CARES Therapy Clinic?
A: That it is meeting two distinct needs: pro bono care for a population that needs it and the opportunity for learning for students.

Q: What has been your favorite moment at CARES?
A: A student that I had worked with said "I always learn a lot from you."

Q: If you could change one thing about CARES, what would it be?
A: I would try to get more clinicians involved or add a second night each week so that more patients could be seen and students would have more educational opportunities.

Q: What is your favorite thing about CARES?

A: My favorite thing about CARES is getting the real life clinic experience. It's so awesome to get to work with real patients and they are all amazing. I also love getting to work with different clinicians and seeing their different viewpoints.

Q: How has your CARES experience prepared you for the future?

A: CARES gives us a way to learn in an environment where we can get hands-on practice, but we still have the safety net of having a clinician right there with us. By volunteering at CARES it's going to be much less scary when we go on fieldwork and begin our career.

Jess House is a 3rd year PT student, graduate of the University of Montana and a fixture of the Tuesday night CARES Clinic. When she's not volunteering at the clinic she enjoys whitewater rafting, going to the movies, and Harry Potter (both the movie and the book). 

Q: What has been the most memorable moment at CARES?

A: It would have to be working with one of our patients who is rehabilitating from a stroke.  The day before in neuro lab, we had been learning how to facilitate gait and stair training in people with hemiparesis.  I got to apply what we had learned with this patient and it was absolutely amazing to see how well it worked.  The patient was barely clearing the steps when climbing stairs when he came in and by offering the cues that we had learned in class, he was clearing the steps fairly easily.  

Q: Who is a faculty member at MUSC that inspires you to volunteer with CARES?

A: Dr. Kraft is such an inspiring person.  She is so passionate about what she does and it rubs off on everyone around her.  She goes above and beyond to help her patients not only with therapy but with whatever they might need, even if it's a ride or a pair of shoes!  And she is such a dedicated teacher making sure that we have every opportunity to become excellent clinicians.