Silsbee Bee, March 4, 2009
This article is about the impact on portions of Jasper County that previously had sent indigent patients to UTMB for care under a contract to provide such care. The following is from Linda Dickerson, program director for Jasper County's indigent health care system: "In the past when indigent patients were sent to Galveston, treatment was top notch. It's a teaching facility where a whole team of interns, doctors and specialists would see a patient," said Dickerson. Many times, after a patient was no longer covered by indigent care, they would still return to Galveston because of the high quality of care. Dickerson said she's seen people, who were able to get back on their feet financially and have insurance still go back to Galveston. "Even after getting insurance, people felt a bond there with the doctors," said Dickerson. "They had confidence in them."