Colorado doctor guarantees health care for needy youths

A physician sets up an "ultimate safety net" for uninsured teens.

By Damon Adams, AMNews staff. Oct. 21, 2002.

Community Spirit
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Homeless teenagers in Denver experience drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, uncontrolled asthma and other problems that can be caused by living on the streets.

But most of them know there is a place to go for free health care: the medical clinic at Urban Peak, a shelter for homeless youths.

Supplying many of the volunteer doctors and nurse practitioners to the clinic is Rocky Mountain Youth Medical and Nursing Consultants, a nonprofit organization that provides medical care to uninsured and other needy children at clinics and shelters throughout Colorado.

"They provide health care that makes kids want to come in off the street," said Roxane White, CEO of Urban Peak. "[Teens] know they're going to get high-quality, caring care."

The man behind Rocky Mountain Youth is Larry Wolk, MD, a Denver pediatrician who has a soft spot for children and a penchant for wacky ties. He developed Rocky Mountain Youth because he didn't want a lack of insurance to keep children from receiving medical treatment.

"We worry about doing what's right first, then worry about how it's going to get paid for second. That takes me back to why I wanted to practice medicine and that's to help people," said Dr. Wolk, 40.

Rocky Mountain Youth provides physicians to nonprofit agencies at free or reduced costs. Its network of physicians and other health care professionals fan out to about 20 different clinics at schools, shelters and other facilities in Colorado. A mobile health van is also used to give medical care. [...]