While much of the country is hashing out an efficient way to provide affordable health care, one local nonprofit group — with generous help from the community — is already doing so.

Clinica Family Health Services offers much-needed medical care to tens of thousands of patients each year, many of them low-income and most without health insurance.

Without Clinica, many of these patients would have to forgo seeing a doctor when they become sick or end up in hospital emergency rooms for preventable illnesses. To help achieve its mission, the organization has applied for funding through the Post's Season to Share program benefiting Denver-area charities.

Clinica's goal: "Happy, healthy kids," says development

director Susan Wortman.

But the clinic is there to help people of all ages avoid medical crises during hard times. Why? "It's the right thing to do across the board," Wortman said.

For patients like Crystal Vasquez, 25, the clinic guarantees her family quality care. Her children can get vaccinations and checkups at the clinic.

"They are really good at getting you in when you need them," said Vasquez. She has been coming to the clinic since she was 13. Doctors there helped her stay healthy through her pregnancies.

Clinica offers a long list of services beyond routine physicals and immunizations. Patients can get blood and cancer screenings, and ultrasounds. Health professionals help clients manage chronic illness, such as diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure. They connect those who need it with mental-health treatment and even offer dental care.

The Clinica system is staffed by doctors, nurses and physician's assistants who keep up with the latest trends. One of Clinica's more successful and economical methods is to offer people treatment in groups.

Patients who share similar needs, people with hepatitis, diabetes or chronic pain, or pregnant women, meet together. They get treatment and education or diet advice and connect with one another to share stories of problems and solutions.

Located on public transportation routes so that they are easily accessible, the clinics serve a wide geographical range. Facilities include the Pecos Medical Clinic in Denver, the Lafayette Medical Clinic, Thornton Medical Clinic and the People's Clinic in Boulder.

When patients arrive at the clinics, they are treated with dignity. With busy reception areas and administrative staffs buzzing about, the clinic looks like any active medical office. Front-desk workers often know the patients and greet them as old friends.

Demand for the clinics' services has grown significantly because of the tough economy. Wortman notes that the clinic has seen many new patients, folks who lost their jobs, and soon after, their health insurance.

The need for medical subsidies has "crept solidly up into the middle class," she said. "Frankly, we are not keeping up. We have long waiting lists."

Ray Mark Rinaldi: rrinaldi@denverpost.com