Florida Facility Tends Homeless Patients

“Our primary focus is to provide quality healthcare to the most patients that we can serve,” Theaker said. “We recognize the fact that we can not help everyone but we continue to do the best that we can with the resources that are available.”

The center received $277,589 in federal, state and local funds for the first year. If any profit is made from the center, it will go toward additional services for the uninsured and underinsured, according to Theaker.

The doctors at Tampa Family receive pay comparable to what they would make at a for-profit urgent care center, but on the low end.

“Most providers that work for our organization are genuinely here because they want to be here,” Theaker said. “They recognize the benefit that the service provides to the community and they want to be a part of it. Most providers and staff that are not here for this reason (probably wouldn’t) last very long.”

If a healthcare professional wants to “give back” and is considering opening or working in a non-profit urgent care, they should look within before making the choice, Theaker said.

“Take a look at your life and first ask yourself, ‘Are you in a position to work for the salary that you will get paid?’ And secondly, ‘Do you genuinely love what you do and have a passion for helping people?’” Theaker said. “If the answer is yes then they are cut out for it.”

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