Healthcare with a heart

When Julie Bilodeau first heard that officials at CrossOver Healthcare Ministry were planning to open a clinic in western Henrico, her initial reaction was astonishment.

"Are you kidding me?" she exclaimed. "The wealthy and affluent West End?"

On Feb. 13, Bilodeau was among the supporters and staff who gathered to mark the 15th anniversary of that Henrico clinic – and to celebrate the hundreds of low-income patients it has served since 2005.

From the moment it opened, in fact, a constant parade of uninsured and medically underserved families has streamed through its doors seeking pediatric care, information, primary and specialty care, and mental health services.

Even with its recent expansion to accommodate vision and dental services, the clinic's dedicated teams of volunteers, physicians, and social workers have to hustle to keep up with the need.

Yes, right smack in the "wealthy and affluent" West End.

As CrossOver's CEO, Bilodeau now finds herself in the position of recruiting volunteers and support for both CrossOver clinics – Henrico's as well as the older City of Richmond site.

Together the two clinics serve more than 6,500 individuals a year, and even the "new" clinic across from Regency Square Mall is at capacity, said Bilodeau.

"We're turning patients away; we need volunteers. Please continue volunteering and supporting this medical safety net."

‘Big Fat F’
Among the physicians who answered the call for volunteers in 2005 was Don Seitz, board chair, who has spent Monday afternoons at the Henrico clinic from the time it opened. At the celebration, Seitz recalled that a brief flirtation with full-time retirement helped lead to his involvement at CrossOver.

"I'd gotten a big fat 'F','" Seitz admitted with a wry smile, "in retirement."

Representatives from CrossOver community partners Sentara Healthcare and Medarva Healthcare also spoke at the celebration. Bruce Kupper, CEO of Medarva Stony Point Surgery Center, noted that the organization – with its roots in the Richmond Eye Hospital – is second only to VCU as the oldest health system in the region. Recalling a visit to CrossOver's former vision clinic on Cowardin Avenue, he said he was "amazed at how much work they were doing in such a little space" – and expressed delight in the new, larger quarters for the Henrico vision center.

Energy and heart
As guests toured the clinic, many were drawn to a large map on display, studded with pins to indicate the various countries of origin for patients. CrossOver patients come from more than 100 different countries, said tour guide Teresa Gonzalez (pictured above, at right) underscoring the critical need for volunteer interpreters and staff members who can speak multiple languages. According to communications associate Shea Tuttle, less than half the patients at CrossOver speak English as a first language.

In County Manager John Vithoulkas' remarks, he observed that as a bilingual student "right down the street" at J.R. Tucker in the 1980s, he was a rarity. But in the decades since, the area around Regency and along Parham Road has changed enormously.

"We now have 100 languages spoken in our schools," noted Vithoulkas, pointing out that while the multitude of cultures and languages brings challenges, "there's also a lot of energy in that."

Providing financial support for a clinic like CrossOver, Vithoulkas emphasized, is one of the most efficient uses of taxpayer money that Henrico County can achieve.

"What you all do makes a huge difference," he said. "What you have here is heart – and you can't fake that."

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For details about volunteering or supporting CrossOver, visit crossoverministry.org.