Providing Chiropractic Care to Underserved in Leavenworth County

Beginning this January, free chiropractic care is coming to Saint Vincent Clinic, the only safety net health clinic in Leavenworth County.

An extended partnership between two nonprofit organizations, Caritas Clinics, Inc. and the Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) Chiropractic Health Center, affords Caritas patients access to chiropractic care at the St. Vincent Clinic, 818 N. 7th St., Leavenworth, Kan.

Caritas Clinics operates two facilities, the Duchesne Clinic, 636 Tauromee Ave., in Kansas City, Kan., and the Saint Vincent Clinic. Caritas is providing a chiropractic treatment room at Saint Vincent Clinic for their patients. The University is providing complimentary, high-value chiropractic care guided by a licensed clinician. The new arrangement is similar to the CUKC/Caritas partnership that began in June 2019 at the Duchesne Clinic in Kansas City, Kan.

Caritas patients are uninsured and live below 175% of the federal poverty level. The CUKC/Caritas arrangement provides patients with a conservative, evidence-based primary care approach for the management of chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions.

“Through this partnership with Cleveland University-Kansas City, we are weaving a safety-net together for our uninsured patients and their communities,” says Dr. Jana Zaudke, Caritas Clinics Medical Director. “Many of our patients work one, often two jobs, and maintaining health is imperative to them. We are grateful to be able to offer them help and hope through our collaboration with Cleveland University-Kansas City.”

“The results of this collaboration include patients receiving the healthcare they need and deserve, which is part of our mission and community commitment as nonprofit organizations,” says Dr. Jeffrey Baier, CUKC Director of Clinical Education and Associate Professor.

Underserved local patient populations receive the benefits of chiropractic care at the same time CUKC interns gain patient care experience and develop relationships with other healthcare professionals. So far, 27 CUKC chiropractic interns have participated in this partnership opportunity at the Duchesne Clinic.

“These patients have real lives and have real issues that affect their daily living,” according to CUKC chiropractic intern Christine Curcio, “and they need chiropractic care to keep them out of pain or keep them in work.” 

Another CUKC chiropractic intern, Kali Wallace, reflected on her experience at the Duchesne Clinic.

“I got to see many people adjusted and evaluated when English was not their first language,” she said. “It was interesting to see how that could change the dynamic of a visit. I learned so much that day from every patient that walked in.”

Under the guidance of Dr. Angie Samuelson, licensed clinician and CUKC faculty member, CUKC interns will provide chiropractic care one day per week at Saint Vincent Clinic in addition to offering care at the Duchesne Clinic twice a week.

Patient care services at both Caritas Clinics include primary care, laboratory, and radiology services, medication assistance, diabetes education, and referrals to other resources and clinics.

ABOUT CARITAS CLINICS, INC

Caritas (Care’-a-tas) Clinics, Inc. is the administrative umbrella under which the Saint Vincent Clinic in Leavenworth and the Duchene Clinic in Kansas City, Kan., operate. Together, the clinics serve Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. The organization is an affiliate of the Sisters of Charity Health System (SCL Health). caritasclinics.org

ABOUT CLEVELAND UNIVERSITY-KANSAS CITY

Founded in 1922 by the Cleveland family, Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a recognized leader in chiropractic and health sciences education. CUKC is a private, nonprofit, regionally accredited institution of higher education with a mission focused on health promotion through education, scholarship, and service. The CUKC Chiropractic Health Center is one of the area’s best choices for quality, affordable chiropractic care. www.cleveland.edu

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Jennifer Matascik, CUKC director of communications at communications@cleveland.edu or 913-424-0126.

Visual Elements:

• Media may record video and audio segments with CUKC licensed chiropractor, CUKC chiropractic interns, and Caritas Clinic representatives.
• B-roll video of the Caritas Clinic is permitted when abiding by patient privacy regulations.
• B-roll video of the exterior CUKC campus is permitted.
• A separate interview room is available.

Fast Facts:

• Saint Vincent Clinic sees about 14 patients each day and provides about 3,000 patient encounters each year.
• Saint Vincent Clinic patients must live at 175% of the poverty level, which in 2019 meant that an individual must earn less than $25,858/year or a family of four under $45,063.
• 10.6% of the population in Leavenworth County, Kansas, was living at or below the poverty level according to the US Census Bureau’s July 2019 report. Source: Census Bureau
• About one in eight Americans stilled lived below the poverty line in 2018. Source: NPR