A message from the CEO

I'm Dr. Richard Keller, CEO of HealthReach. Here at HealthReach volunteer doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers work with our trained staff to help thousands of Lake County, IL residents each year. This nonprofit organization provides free healthcare to those Lake County residents who live on incomes below 120% of the federal poverty line. Most of these individuals have jobs and families to support. This service keeps them in regular care and out of emergency rooms.

Before HealthReach existed there was a hole in the Lake County healthcare safety net. Uninsured individuals living on incomes below the federal poverty line lacked access to appropriate healthcare services. We developed the only free clinic in Lake County to meet that need. Since 1992 we have provided for over 36,000 individual visits and our service numbers are growing. Providing healthcare and ensuring its effectiveness by providing medication, helps to ensure maintenance of health. This provision reduces negative impact on the individual and on the community. We recently raised our financial screen to 120% of the federal poverty line ($21,180 for a family of 4) to help those who earn minimum wage but are without healthcare benefits. Last year we provided over $1.4 million in healthcare services.

We provide access to healthcare not because it is "deserved" but because it serves human justice, dignity, and a humane society. We provide caring service to our patients and we care for them as individuals. HealthReach (our staff and volunteers) cares.