There are plenty of ideas about what might happen with health care or what could bring costs down. But in Minnesota a dedicated group of doctors, nurses and volunteers have been providing real medical bill relief to patients in need for 17 years.

The good works done by St. Mary’s Health Clinic are given their due in a well-written profile in the Twin Cities Daily Planet. Run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province, the clinics puts more than 300 volunteers to work providing free health at eight sites across the Twin Cities.

Providing free medical care to low-income, uninsured people was thought to be a stop-gap when the clinic was founded in the early 1990s. Then, as their is now, a young politician was talking about national health care reform for the country.

No sweeping health care changes came about then, and so the clinic carried on in a role that is essential for many people. In the words of longtime volunteer Dr. Ellen Raeker:

It’s heartwarming to [volunteer]. I just wish I didn’t have to do it. It’s heart breaking sometimes. A poor lady lost her job. She’s 63, can’t get Medicare yet. Young people trying to establish themselves. It makes you go home and ask why does this have to be?

Indeed. While we often write about people fighting and struggling to stay in control of their lives in the face of massive medical bills it’s also important to highlight the helping hand.

And while it isn’t much, we do want to send a big “Thank You” to St. Mary’s. Their clinic handles all sorts of general care, and has even built up a network of specialist care providers and even an eye doctor. Each year they help thousands of people deal with minor medical needs to providing life-saving diagnosis and preventive care for people that would otherwise fall through the cracks.