MKHC in Action: Stepping Up for A Patient in Pain

Ms. S, a 74-year-old patient from Sri Lanka, lives alone with limited support, relying on friends or Uber to get to medical appointments. This fall, she came to the podiatrist facing a confusing and painful medical crisis: One rainy day, she stepped into a small water-filled hole and felt a sharp pain in her left foot. An X-ray revealed a metal object similar to a sewing needle lodged under her ankle, pressing against a nerve and causing intense pain and sleepless nights.

Even after multiple appointments at another location and a visit to the emergency room, no one was able to resolve her issue. When she returned to MKHC for a follow-up after the hospital visit, she saw Dr. Baek, MKHC's pro bono podiatrist. He immediately recognized the urgency of her issue and offered to perform surgery to remove the needle at no cost.

However, Ms. S still faced an $800 fee for the surgical facility and anesthesia—an amount she could not afford. Ana, a medical assistant at MKHC, could tell how desperate Ms. S was, how she cried during each visit from the pain and confusion. Ana decided to do everything she could to help Ms. S, including contacting the surgery coordinator at Dr. Baek’s practice to get an estimate for the remaining cost of the procedure, and working with Ms. S’s case manager to identify ways to help cover the cost.  

Thanks to Ana and Dr. Baek’s persistence, Ms. S underwent surgery on October 8th, free of charge. She has returned for follow-up with Dr. Baek and Ana, and she is progressing well.

Her story is a powerful example of how MKHC staff go above and beyond—stepping in when others don’t, and making sure no patient is left behind.

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