East Bay Children's Health Center Regains Its Financial Footing
SAN LEANDRO (KCBS) - A one-of-a-kind children's health care center in the East Bay reopened, six months after it was forced to shut down key services because of financial difficulties.
The George Mark Children's House was established to help terminally ill children and their families.
KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:
"It's not just the medical care, it's emotional, spiritual, psychosocial," explained Dr. Barbara Beach, who co-founded the San Leandro center six years ago. "And we focus on quality of life for the child and their family. And that's the bottom line."
Since opening, the center cared for 300 children. Insurance, however, only covered approximately 15% of costs, leaving the center to rely mostly on private donations.
When the economy collapsed, so did the center's funding. Donations were so scarce that the center was unable to accept new children earlier this year.
"It was heartbreaking, we had to let our nurses go, all except six part-time employees."
The center worked with government officials in an ongoing effort toward restructuring.
"We worked with the state of California to clarify that we actually provide care at the subacute level, so we're literally one small step down from an acute care hospital," said Beach.
The center successfully reopened this month, again providing respite, transitional and end-of-life care for children.
"A lot of people are starting to realize that death is going to happen," Beach offered. "And we can have some control over how it happens. Maybe not when it happens, but how it happens. And I think because that's been more in the public mind that we're able to kind of say, okay, you know, here we are, we're doing the same things with children."
Beach reiterated her commitment to her young patients.
"Any diagnosis that would lead to the possibility and probability that the child would die prior to their, I would say, their early to mid 20s is eligible for our care."
She hoped the community would continue to support her center.
"People being aware of us has been helpful, there are some foundations and granting organizations who are now more aware of us and are willing to help with grant funding."
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