((PKG))  CHESAPEAKE CARE CLINIC    
((Banner:  Help for the Uninsured)) 
((Reporter/Camera:  June Soh)) 
((Map:  : Chesapeake, Virginia))    
 
((NATS)) 
((Tammy Givens, Patient))  
Twelve years ago, I woke up one morning and ended up in 
an emergency room and that's when I found out that I was a 
diabetic.  And I was in the hospital for four days and that's 
when I was referred to Chesapeake Care Clinic.  And 
Chesapeake Care Clinic has been my life saver. 
((NATS:  Tammy Givens and Dr. Dwight Matthias))   
Hi, Doctor Matthias.   
Nice seeing you again.  
Good to see you always.  
Let’s review what went on with your blood test and the 
results, okay? 
Okay.     
You can see that the scar has healed perfectly. So, I am 
proud of that.  You, okay?   
Yes. 
The things are going great.  Now, as you know, you have 
many other endocrine issues that is going on.  
((Tammy Givens, Patient))  
I've been seeing an endocrinologist.  I've had a parathyroid 
removed in June.  After becoming a patient of theirs, I found 
out that I not only was diabetic, I have high blood pressure.  I 
have suffered with sleep apnea and I was given a sleep 
apnea machine to keep me breathing at night.  Without this 
machine, I could’ve been dead.  I've been without a health 
insurance for more than 20 years.  My income was not 
enough to pay for it.  
((NAT:  Medical staff))   
I heard a little bit of what she talked with you about.  Why 
don’t you tell me what she went over with you.  
((Virgil Wiley, Patient))  
I was in a motorcycle accident a few years ago and I got 
broken teeth and abscess in my mouth.  And I am self-
employed.  I don't make a lot of money and this is the only 
way I can get my health fixed.    
((Juan Montero, Retired Surgeon, Founder - Chesapeake 
Care Clinic))  
It was October 1st, 1992 when this clinic opened, solely for 
the uninsured and the lower income people underserved in 
health care.  Wealthy as this country is, there is still millions 
of patients that don’t have insurance.  Many patients fell 
between cracks and not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid 
nor wealthy enough to pay for health insurance.  
((NAT:  Dr. Dwight Matthias))   
Breathe in for me.  Hold, release. 
((Dr. Dwight Matthias, Endocrinologist, Chesapeake 
Care Clinic))  
I have been volunteering here for over 15 years.  I am one of 
the 500 volunteers here at this clinic.  All volunteers include 
from administration, medical, dental, pharmacy, nurses, 
dental students.   
((NAT:  Tracy Decker))  
Sugar and it also has protein.  So, if you add milk, that is 
healthier than adding sugar.  
((Tracy Decker, Registered Nurse, Chesapeake Care 
Clinic))  
I volunteer at the clinic here.  I am a registered nurse.  I 
teach diabetic education because about a third of our 
population actually has diabetes here at the clinic.  So 
important for the patients who have diabetes to understand 
how they can control their diabetes so that they don’t have 
long-term and short-term complications.  Complications can 
kill patients.  We work as a team and the patient is the center 
of the team and we're all helping to keep everybody as 
healthy as possible.  
((NATS)) 
((Tammy Givens, Patient))  
I take about 16 pills a day and I take the insulin at night.  And 
that medication will cost me more than 680 dollars for 30-day 
prescription fee, you know, together.  And I pay about 16 
dollars. 
((NATS)) 
((Virgil Wiley, Patient))  
Today, I have received two EpiPens and the original cost of 
it was 730 dollars and I paid two dollars today.  And it's for 
severe reactions to bees, food, anything that you’re severally 
allergic to.  It could be life threatening.  And if I didn't get it 
here, I wouldn't be able to afford it at all.    
((NATS)) 
((Dr. Dwight Matthias, Endocrinologist, Chesapeake 
Care Clinic))   
Chesapeake Care Clinic is funded from the generosity and 
the donation of good-hearted individuals from our 
community.    
((NATS)) 
((Tammy Givens, Patient))  
I live with my mom.  Because of Chesapeake Care helping 
me and providing me with the care that they do, I am able to 
stay here and take care of my mom and do all of 
volunteering and things and working in the administrative 
part of the church.   
((NATS)) 
((Tammy Givens, Patient)) 
Otherwise, I certainly would not be here today. 
((NATS))