Many people in Indiana cannot afford to get the quality health care they need.
However, one new organization is dedicated to making sure they have it.
Indiana Medical Specialist Group (IMSG) Inc. was recently formed to serve medically underserved areas and populations, in both urban and rural communities.
IMSG, a growing network of physicians and caregivers, is committed to providing services to individuals who may otherwise not have them because of lack of access or affordability.
“We will work with existing health care structures and primary care physicians to provide specialized health care on a contractual and mobile basis,” said Kevin L. Johnson, founder and president of IMSG.
Some of the services IMSG plans to provide include primary care, preventative health education, pain management; youth exercise programs, pediatric medicine, podiatry, weight loss management, dentistry, mental health, optometry, pharmaceutical advice and innovative telemedicine technology.
Mobile health care will be provided to community centers, nursing homes and hospitals (urban and rural).
Care will be rendered to patients regardless of ability to pay, and all insurances, Medicare, and Medicaid, in addition to cash payments will be accepted.
“Our model is unique and unlike any similar group because we offer a much broader range of specialized care to communities wherever they may be,” Johnson said. “We make total care assessable and affordable to all.”
IMSG is still in its early stages, but plans to be operational this year. It has held a series of free health clinics across the community, and is recruiting health professionals to participate in its efforts.
“Top level health care specialists of varying backgrounds have stepped forward and expressed their desire to help close the ever widening “health gap,” or disparities, between the economically disadvantaged and the well insured,” said Johnson, who is also a radiography technologist and director of radiology at Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana, one of the largest rehabilitation hospitals in the Midwest.
Also part of the current administration of IMSG are David B. Goldenberg, its medical director and former president of the medical staff of Hancock Memorial Hospital, and attorney Gregory Thomas, as legal advisor.
To meet its major goals, IMSG is actively seeking funding through government grants, foundations and individual investors. So far, it has received significant support from local federal and state lawmakers in its efforts to secure funding.
In a statement, Congressman André Carson, D-Ind., noted that many minority communities have trouble accessing important preventive services they need to stay healthy.
“IMSG provides a wide range of free health services that are of particular concern to minority communities, including blood sugar assessments, cholesterol checks, prostate screenings, dental care education, nutrition and physical exercise information, hypertension and blood pressure checks,” Carson said.
State Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, agreed that ISMG’s work could make a noticeable impact on the elimination of local health disparities.
“Sufficient health care can help improve the quality of life and productivity for disadvantaged individuals and entire communities,” Taylor said. “I am confident that if this organization received the support and funding to provide services to those in need, the health care gap will begin to close.”
State Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis, is also asking state and city officials to assist IMSG in its efforts.
“This organization creates a model that will benefit the entire community,” she said.
For more information about the Indiana Medical Specialists Group, send a message to Kevin.johnson@imsg.biz.
