Bread of Healing Clinic (BOHC)

A clinic for working people without access to health insurance.

History:

The Bread of Healing Clinic began in 2000 as a ministry of Cross Lutheran Church, established with the support of community partners (UW-Madison Medical School, Aurora Health Care, other local churches).  It continues now as a separately incorporated organization.

Mission:

•  Provide high quality medical care for people with chronic illnesses, who are working but are without access to health insurance.
•  Provide an environment of education for patients and for volunteers to learn more about the treatment of chronic illnesses in patients who most often experience disparities in care.
•  Provide opportunities to experience, request, and offer healing for all of us (patient, provider, volunteer).
•  Provide health care for patients in between health insurance coverages.

We believe that health is:

•  An issue of faith, for Jesus was continuously engaged in the work of healing.
•  An issue of social justice, a right that belongs to all people, regardless of ability to pay.
•  An issue of wholeness in the physical, spiritual, emotional, and social well being of individuals.

God calls us to healing in every arena of human life, and we seek to respond to that call in this ministry.

Demographics:

•  Opened in 2000, we have seen 1500 patients.
•  Currently open to see patients 4 half days each week.
•  250-300 patient visits each month;3000 patient visits in 2005
•  700-1000 patients are active with the clinic at any given time.
•  50% have hypertension.
•  30% have diabetes.
•  All medications, supplies, labs, visits with a medical professionals are free.

Patients are referred through the Aurora’s Sinai and St. Luke’s residency programs, the Parish Nurse network, the local churches, Aurora clinics, and the Sinai emergency room*

•  70% of our patients are African American.
•  84% of our patients are working.
•  60% of our patients are men.

*Though we do not advertise, patients are referred to us from other emergency rooms in the city of Milwaukee,

Our Partnership:

Cross of Life members volunteer at the clinic as physicians, receptionists, bookkeepers, pill sorters, construction crews and with special projects.