| |
 The Hospital Infantil de las Californias, (HIC) provides-state-of-the-art medical care to children living on both sides of the California and Mexico border. The majority of the patients are from Mexico, but the hospital also serves children living in California who otherwise do not have access to adequate medical care. Many families prefer to receive care in their own cultural setting and in their native language. However, before HIC was constructed there were limited choices. Now, fewer children will have to travel to obtain specialized care.
The initial 2,000 square foot Pediatric Specialty Clinic of the HIC was built in 1994 with funds raised in a one-day telethon/street campaign in Tijuana. This specialty clinic is named D.A.R.T.E. for diagnosis, assessment, referral, treatment and education. In Spanish it means, “to give to you”. The building was expanded by 1,000 square feet in 1996, and again by 20,000 additional square feet in 2001.
The facility is strategically located two miles from the UABC Medical School, the Tijuana International Airport and is ˝ mile into Mexico at the San Diego, U.S. -Mexican Otay border crossing.
 HIC is currently an outpatient Pediatric Medical Specialty Clinic which to date has provided over 88,200 pediatric consultations in 42 specialties. Orthopedic, ophthalmologic and cleft palette surgeries are among the most common surgical procedures performed.
The Medical Specialties Clinic includes a one-day surgery suite, a pharmacy, a dental clinic, and 10 examination rooms. In addition, there is a physical therapy and rehabilitation center, therapy pool, laboratory, radiology department, education center, library and administrative offices.
Professionals and trained volunteers play a significant role in the hospital. 145 of the area’s finest pediatric specialists donate their time to the hospital. Presently, only 6 of the physicians receive payments for their services.
Out of 300 total staff only 20% are paid.
The Hospital Infantil provides care at a fraction of the cost of US hospitals for comparable care. Families are carefully screened to determine their ability to pay.
No child has ever been turned away if there was a specialist available.
The hospital currently serves approximately 2,500 patients per month. Of these:
- 25 percent of the patients pay 100 % of their bill
- 65 percent of the patients need a subsidy
- 10 percent of the patients need full assistance
Hospital Infantil de las Californias can operate at lower costs because expenses are subsidized by the donated time of the physicians, volunteer administrative assistants and support from donors like you.
 Although medical care is less expensive to administer in Mexico the Hospital Infantil de las Californias is a state-of-the art facility. The Mexican doctors donate time primarily to help children, and they also appreciate having the opportunity to work with advanced medical technology.
The final phase of Hospital Infantil de las Californias will be the completion of its in-patient section called CURARTE - the Spanish word "to cure you". CURARTE will provide urgent care; additional surgery suites, special care and short stay hospitalization, plus continue to offer expanded outreach programs in health, education and nutrition programs to participating patients and families. The total complex is expected to serve 50,000 patients per year.
The architectural plans continue to include a child-family focus, and an advanced environmental-friendly design that will serve as a model for hospitals around the world.
Construction and equipping the next phase will cost approximately $10 million US dollars. A campaign to raise these funds is currently underway in Mexico, the United States and Canada.
|
