General Info:
The Ibn Sina Foundation was established in 2001 by a group of local physicians, business, and healthcare professionals to bridge the growing gap between the health care needs of a rapidly expanding population of underserved families, and the ability of existing public institutions to meet their needs. The Foundation's mission is to ensure the health of the community by providing integrated preventive and primary care in a clinic setting through the dissemination and application of health related knowledge, thereby enhancing the quality of life for future generations. The first Ibn Sina Community Medical Center was established in Southwest Houston in 2001; the second Ibn Sina Community Medical Center was established in 2004 in Southeast Houston. Since 2001, Ibn Sina has provided nearly 113, 000 outpatient visits (medical and dental) for low-income, uninsured Houstonians. In 2008 alone, Ibn Sina provided for over 32, 000 outpatient care (includes children). March 1, 2007 marked the opening of a new expanded Ibn Sina Foundation Community Medical Center in Southwest Houston. This unique medical center provides rare specialty medical services to Houston's uninsured and indigent. Funds for the new Center and the necessary equipment were supported by Houston's philanthropic community, the City of Houston, Cullen Trust for Health Care, and the Ibn Sina Foundation Board of Directors- a $1.8 million project. The rationale for the new Center was to allow additional space for the ever-increasing number of uninsured and poverty-stricken patients seen by the clinic each year. Specialty care services are now offered to Houston's uninsured such as women's health, urinary care, pediatric care, diabetic management program, nutrition, cardiovascular screenings/services or eye care. In addition to housing specialty medical clinics, a special space is designed for physicians to educate patients about their disease, their required medications and/or nutrition. One of the only healthcare centers in Houston dedicated to uninsured families to offer comprehensive medical care that includes specialty medicine (cardiology, gynecology, ophthalmology, neurology, GIT, cancer prevention, mental health and family counseling etc.), dentistry and imagining services. Recently received grants that make it possible to open the SW Houston community medical center from 5-9 p.m. five days per week as well as hire an additional physician for overlap and evening hours. Existing Services Even though Houston has several county and city managed clinics that offer primary care medical services to the poor, many of these clinics require patients to participate in Medicaid or some other type of government medical assistance for which not all families qualify, and often requires a $30 or more co-pay at the time of service. When a patient arrives at an Ibn Sina Clinic, they are asked to pay a low fee of $25 for each visit. Ibn Sina patients are not required to participate in federal assistance. If a patient is unable to afford $25 for an office visit, a sliding scale is available to determine the patient's ability to pay. If a patient is absolutely unable to pay any part of the $25 fee, a special fund has been established to subsidize the fee. No patients are turned away for inability to pay. Contributions from local businesses and individuals make the fund possible. Pharmaceuticals are provided through local physician offices (samples) and are gathered and inventoried regularly by volunteers. Additionally, several pharmaceutical companies provide patients the opportunity to obtain prescriptions free of charge if eligible. Also, Ibn Sina staff helps patients seek all other available opportunities for medication such as pharmaceutical company medical assistance programs. The ethnic mix of Ibn Sina's patients is approximately 36% (Pakistani, Chinese, Indian Vietnamese, and Bangladeshi) 37% Hispanic, 20% African-American, and 7% White.