Greetings from the editor!
It is hard to believe that the year is half over, but there’s no denying that summer is here. The Paris Olympics, the baseball play-offs, college sports, and a new school year, are all around the corner. How time flies!
Attention!!! Our website address has changed! You can find us at: juliascenter.org
About Us:
Julia’s Center for Healthcare Earned a 2024 Gold Rating from the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) Quality Standards Program by self-attesting that the organization has policies and procedures in place that underscores its mission and commitment to provide quality care to the uninsured adult residents of Collin County.
Julia’s is also a member in good standing of the Texas Association of Charitable Clinics and the Collin County Coalition of Charitable Clinics.
Reminder: Julia’s Center follows the Plano City and Plano ISD schedule for closures in the event of inclement weather. Holiday closures are planned in advance and are documented of our web site, www.juliascenter.org.
Services provided as of June 30, 2024
Total Volunteers: 80
Volunteer Hours 3,488
Total Patient Visits: 712
New Patient Visits: 82
Diabetic Patient Visits 83
Vials of Insulin provided: 89
Labs provided: 1122
EKGs: 8
PAP smears: 13
Radiology to include: Xray’s, 2, CT, 1, Ultrasounds, 5, and Mammograms, 25
Optical Exams 48
Retinal Exams/Injections 10
Glasses distributed: 9
Total in kind dollars: $388,559.00
Mark your calendars & save the date
Donor and volunteer appreciation night is planned for September 6th, 2024 at the clinic. We would love to see you and give you a personal thank-you for all you do for our clinic, patient’s and the community. To see a complete list of our major supporters, go to juliascenter.org. To become one, go to https://juliascenter.org/donate/.
Our big fund raiser is just around the corner; September 19, 2024. North Texas Day of Giving is a great opportunity to donate to Julia’s Center for Healthcare. Giving begins on September 1st. Over 5,000 local charities were assisted last year with over $63.9 million dollars donated. Giving could not be easier. Go to the website www.Northtexasgivingday.org. on your computer or smart phone to give. To donate LOCATE the DONATE TAB, it will lead you to search for Julia’s Center for Healthcare, and the system will lead you through the process. Questions about the organization, partners, fiscal management, and charities that benefit can be found on that site. A few moments of your time, and your financial gift is much appreciated and will enable Julia’s to keep the doors open for another year.
What’s New!
We are excited to begin a partnership with West Coast University’s to host a new 1st or 2nd PA student volunteers in 5-week intervals during the semesters. We’ve also entered into an agreement to add a 6 month, Capestone project.
Breaking News: We’re Moving!!!:
We’ve outgrown our current space and are excited to announce that we are expanding our clinic! Our operations team has secured a lease for the next 3 years (2024-2027) to a larger office in the same strip center 2 doors down from our current space. This will provide the clinical space necessary to increase our services. We are currently renovating the space and preparing for the move. We will be sharing more exciting details in the weeks to come.
New Medical Specialties: Family Medicine, Neurology, Cardiology, and Ophthalmology. We’re thrilled to announce that we have expanded Endocrinology/ Diabetes Clinic to twice monthly, The Women’s Health Clinic (non-OB issues) has restarted, Ophthalmology including retinal examinations has been added to our Optometry services plus we offer distribution & fitting of glasses once a month.
TECH News: We have been upgrading our technical support to efficiently register patients at check in by implementing tablets to help our patients check in and register. Computers have been added or upgraded to assist in patient management, provider charting, electronic ordering with pharmacies, labs, and radiology centers. We are encouraging all our patients to register in our “patient portal”. This allows them to access their labs, current medications, check on upcoming appointments, review radiology reports, request refills their established pharmacy, as well as communicate with the clinic through e-mail. We also text all of our patients who provide phone numbers appointment reminders, and forward questions or concerns to our administrative team to help forward to providers, or provide needed information.
New Faces: We have added an Administrative Assistant (part-time) during the day to address patient calls and pre-register patients for clinic visits, Jordy Lopez is a wonderful addition to our staff. He is a college student, a whiz on computers, and is fluent in both English and Spanish. He started out as one of our student volunteers from UNT, and we are blessed to have him working with us.
New Providers: Dr. da Silva-Stephen, Family Practice. Dr. Cecil Christian, Hospitalist/Internal Medicine, Dr. Tya-Mae Julien, Gastroenterology/Internal Medicine, Kavita Desai Nurse Practitioner, Neurology/Family Practice, Dr. Megan Philkhana, Internal Medicine, Dr. Ravi Sreerama, Internal Medicine, and Dr. Paul Hurd, Neurology.
New Nurses: Dott, Kourtney, Heidi, Amanda, Elaine, and Irene.
New Prayer Minister: John and Moises
Non-Medical: Diana, Syed, Angel, Myrah, Mohammad, Swaroop, and Triveni.
Unsung Heros!!!
We have an amazing group of volunteers, several whom have been with Julia from the beginning and through the trials and triumphs. These volunteer heroes have served faithfully for 20-25 years and are still with us today: Jhonnatan Garduno PA., Chris Garduno, Rao Vemula MD., Vani Duvurri MD., Barbara Dawson RN., Barbara Devitt RN., Mary Ann Lee BSN., Carol Hasty RN., Sally Hurd RN., Kathryn Branch NP., Christina Doyle, Alicia Harris, Maria Teresa Ugarte, and Trini Barreras.
Look Who’s Moving Up and Moving On!
Akash: After 5 years of service who is a recent graduate of University of Texas at Dallas is off to Texas Tech University to pursue his master’s degree. He served faithfully in several capacities.
Laasya: Cheers to a graduate of The University of Texas at Dallas, and she is enrolled in Texas Tech El Paso Medical School.
Devaney: Another big shout out to graduate of The University of Texas at Dallas. She’s enrolled in the UT Southwestern Physician Assistant program and before leaving, she said, “It brings joy to my heart, I leave the clinic with a sense of satisfaction and happiness. My goal is to return to the clinic someday as a PA”.
Shahrtar: Graduated from UTD earlier this year, and is also off to Medical School.
How you can Help:
To Donate: Go to https://juliascenter.org/donate/
We have an urgent need for volunteer bi-lingual Translators and Spanish speaking medical scribes. If you are a Spanish-English speaking individual WE NEED YOU NOW! If you have 4 hours a month to serve, you would be a blessing to us and to the many in our community who need your help.
We also need the following volunteers: Social Workers, and other allied health professionals.
Providers: MD’s, DO’s, PA’s, NP’s
Nurses: RN’s, LPN’s, or CMA’s.
We have a real need for a Diabetic Foot Nurse, and Diabetic Nurse Educator. We’re also looking to expand our prayer ministry and welcome clergy and members of the faith community to volunteer. Interested, contact www.juliascenter.org. our website has a link to apply to be a volunteer, and other pertinent information.
Future Projects: Thanks to the efforts of the TORT team, we acquired federal TORT coverage that will enable our providers, nurses, and staff to work without the worry of malpractice issues. We’re also in the process of implementing a Quality Assurance Program to ensure that best practices are utilized by all providers, and staff today, and every day in the future at Julia’s Center.
A Welcome Video for our patients is being prepared to educate patients on how to use the portal, how to contact the pharmacy for refills, how to use GOODRX® and other discount services. It will also provide information on options for care in other charity clinics, plus mental health agencies such as Lifepath.
We’re also looking to form a Diabetic Support Group. Management of this chronic and multi-facetted illness can be stressful and challenging for both the patient and provider. Having a group of peers led by a Physician, Diabetic Educator, and other allied health professional such as a Nutritionist will help this population cope with their illness and bring them to goal.
Patient Information:
Are you looking for a free ESL class? Learning or expanding your ability to speak English will lead to more success living in the USA. The following are classes near Julia’s Center, however there are many in Collin County. You can locate a full list by searching COLLIN COUNTY FREE ESL CLASSES NEAR ME.
Collin Adult Education & Literacy (AEL)
2000 N Central Expressway, Plano TX ((72) 349-4550
ESL & Citizenship Plano Texas
2121 Bay Hill Drive Plano (972) 867-1610
Free GED/ESL Classes for Adults
(Held at) Bowman Middle School
2501 Jupiter Road, Plano TX 75074 (469) 752-4800
Local Good Center
2201 Avenue K Suite A-200 and Suite C-100
Plano, TX 75074 (469) 366-9095
Mental Health Services
Lifepath Systems Plano: 972-422-5939
Lifepath McKinney-972-562-0190
City of Plano Telephone Resources:
24-Hour Mobile Crisis Line: 877-422-5939
Green Oaks Hospital, McKinney (972-548-5409
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-Collin County) 214-341-7133
Suicide Prevention: 972-524-4357
Please refer a homeless person to a warming shelter in event of inclement weather. The Salvation Army of Plano keeps a current list 972-423-8254
Social Services
Social Security Administration
3250 Craig Dr.
McKinney, TX 75070
866-931-2731 www.ssa.gov.
Hope’s Door New Beginning Center
860 Avenue F
Plano, TX 75074 (972) 422-2911 www.hdnbc.org.
Editor’s Note:
I am on that list of 20-year plus volunteers, when people ask why I volunteer? I guess the easy answer is “the people”. I strongly invite you to one of our clinic nights. You’ll see hard working people. Students who translate and register patients, nurses who take histories and provide patient education at the same time. Other volunteers slip in with a hot meal for the crew who is working that night, and the provider’s often coming in after an 8–10-hour day at their clinic or hospital unit to provide medical services and care. Finally, you’ll see our patients, many are new to Texas, other’s citizen’s unable to access health care anywhere else. Many do not know our language, culture, or rules to navigate our complex system. They come from all over the world, all ethnicities, religions, and cultures. They have one thing in common, a need for health care. So, we care for them, and I believe very well, given what we have, and they are grateful. We try to make a difference in their physical, mental, and spiritual health. As a provider, I often leave a clinic night tired, and sometimes a bit overwhelmed, but I know I made a difference in another human’s life. Julia did it originally out of the back of her truck. Now, we have a beautiful clinic, served by amazing providers and staff. We’re blessed to expand our services! I volunteer hoping that I can make a difference and it’s been a blessing to me. That’s why I volunteer. Blessing, Kathi
Quote: “No one has ever become poor by giving, Anne Frank
