NTX Cares – Providing Quality Healthcare for Those in Need

The Frisco Cares Children’s Clinic was established in 2005 as a class project of Leadership Frisco Class 8 in order to address the growing health care needs of uninsured children in Frisco, and the surrounding communities of Little Elm, Celina, and Prosper. The Clinic initially operated out of a bus shared by the Collin County Adult Clinic. Children’s Clinic was held Wednesday nights in the Acker Elementary parking lot. Later, patients were treated in a donated space at Primera Iglesia Bautista Church located at 5th and Ash in Frisco.  In 2008, the Frisco Cares Children’s Clinic moved to a more permanent space in a 2 bedroom house in Oak Street, one block north of Main Street in Frisco. In this space, the clinic flourished as the growing need for health care for the uninsured in the community was on the rise.

Frisco Cares became the North Texas Cares Clinic in 2013 and in May 2013 and closed the Oak Street location in order to relocate to a larger space on McKinney Road. The new space will allow 7 examination rooms, and will feature a Women’s Clinic.

NTX Cares currently serves the needs of uninsured or underinsured through physicals and immunizations. Through its medical partners throughout Frisco and the surrounding area, NTX Cares is able to provide access to mammograms, x-rays, lab testing, and other medical services and specialists so that patients cares continues beyond its doors.

NTX Cares has been supported by community fundraising events such as the North Texas Cares Golf Classic, the Frisco Sunrise Rotary Paddy Dash, and the Frisco Lakes Women’s Golf Association Golf Tournament.  North Texas Cares has also benefited from corporate and individual contributions, as well as public and private foundation support. Funding is also provided by local municipal and county governments.

It is the mission of the North Texas Cares Clinic to provide the highest quality, most cost-efficient health and wellness care to the underserved in our community.  Here are a few of our patient stories:

Saving Lives:

Mother brought her young elementary school aged son in for ear and toothache.  The child was examined and sent to a specialist, at no cost, as his issues were suspicious of a more serious ailment.  The child was diagnosed with leukemia.  He received treatment, including a bone marrow transplant and is currently in remission as a healthy 8th grader in middle school.  All of his treatment and physician care was donated, through the collaboration of the clinic, its partners, and the North Texas Community.  Had he not been brought to our clinic, he would likely have gone undiagnosed.

Helping to Heal:

Many adult patients that come have likely not seen a doctor in years.  One adult patient came to the clinic because he could not afford $150.00 just to see a doctor at Prima Care, let alone the $1200.00 for his prescriptions and $1600.00 for the tests he needed.  Frisco Cares made sure he had medical care and prescriptions – for just $10.00.

Connecting to Care:

Recently when one of our volunteers fell ill and noticed an abnormal mass in her breast, she came to NTX Cares immediately for care.  The physician examined the patient and immediately ordered labs and imaging through our community partners who were able to confirm a diagnosis of breast cancer.  The patient was then connected to the Dallas Breast Bridge Network and the GDAS Cancer Clinic, a free cancer treatment clinic in Plano.  Our patient continues to receive care and counseling from these entities, as well as NTX Cares.

Since 2005, the NTX Cares Clinic (Frisco Cares) has treated over 1,900 individual patients. Each year we see and treat over 400 adults and children for conditions ranging from ear infections to diabetes.  Our volunteers provide over 1,000 hours of service and care each year as they work to further our mission of providing the highest quality, most cost-efficient health and wellness care to the underserved in our community.

NTX Cares is operated by a nearly all volunteer staff.  Medical personnel consists of including two pediatricians, a family practice doctor, two physician assistants, five nurse practitioners, and over 40 volunteer nurses.  NTX Cares also has over 75 non-medical volunteers who serve in clerical, translation, and data entry positions.  An Operations Director oversees clinic operations.

The clinic operated previously out of a two exam room facility near downtown Frisco.  NTX Cares is opening a new facility located on McKinney Road, in Frisco, in order to be able to meet the growing need for health care services.  This new space will feature seven exam rooms as well as a women’s clinic for well-woman checkups.  In an effort to increase community awareness of the clinic and the services it provides, NTX Cares is calling on local businesses and community organizations to become partners in this project.  Businesses and organizations can become a partner by becoming a sponsor or through the donations of supplies and finishing materials.  Project sponsors will be eligible for recognition on all project print materials, NTX Cares social media, and the NTX Cares website.  Information requests and more about how to partner with NTX Cares can be directed to NTX Cares Operations Manager Erin Mudie at emudie (at) ntxcares (dot) org.