Jorge Riopedre, an influential networker in the St. Louis Hispanic
community, has morphed into the role of executive director of a nonprofit health
clinic.
In his latest incarnation, he is running Casa de Salud, which translates to
"House of Health" in Spanish. The St. Louis organization provides clinical and
mental health care for the uninsured, with a special focus on the Latino
community.
"We're proud to do what we do here," Riopedre said. "Here's the next generation
of immigrants who come to the United States with hope of a better life, and
here's Casa. ... It's a feel-good job."
In 2010, Riopedre served as the paid executive director of the Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce for Metropolitan St. Louis. In 2008 and 2009, he was the chamber's
volunteer chairman and president. He previously ran two independent video
production companies in the St. Louis area.
Casa de Salud opened its doors in 2010. Last year, the clinic delivered more
than 10,000 patient services to an estimated 4,000 individuals, Riopedre said.
Patients pay a $25 fee for an office visit.
Casa de Salud mainly serves immigrants and asks no questions about a person's
immigration status.
About half of these patients are undocumented workers, Riopedre said. Many do
manual labor, including construction and landscaping, or work in service
businesses, such as restaurants and hotels.
Casa de Salud also provides counseling services for victims of domestic violence
and sexual abuse.
The clinic serves adults only and refers children to the People's Health Center.
Unlike adults, immigrant children often have insurance through federal programs.
Providing the uninsured with heavily discounted health care is in the public
interest, Riopedre said, in part because it means that fewer costs are passed
along to other consumers. An office visit is much less expensive than emergency
room treatment. Such doctor visits also protect the public from outbreaks of
communicable diseases.
Riopedre, who grew up in the Tampa area, was the product of immigrants. Tending
to the poor, he said, reflects traditional Christian values.
Casa de Salud has an annual budget of $1.2 million, which includes cash and
in-kind services. St. Louis University provides the clinic's building on the
corner of Chouteau and Compton avenues.
The clinic's staff of 25 full-time and part-time employees includes a registered
nurse as well as licensed social workers, medical assistants and receptionists.
It also relies on 39 volunteer physicians, along with 15 volunteer "navigators"
who help connect patients with other clinics and hospitals.
Riopedre sat down recently for an interview. Here's an edited transcript:
How is health reform or the Affordable Care Act going to affect health care in
the St. Louis area's Latino community and your work at Casa de Salud?
Speaking strictly from Casa's point of view, the Affordable Care Act
specifically leaves out the undocumented and those who have been in the country
legally but for less than five years. So, in that respect, the Affordable Care
Act could actually create more people that we see that will still need care and
that in fact will perhaps be in worse shape than they were before -- because as
the Affordable Care Act brings more people into coverage, the people who are now
