title: Answering the call to accessible quality health care for all using a new model of local community not-for-profit charity clinics: A return to Christ-centered care of the past.
abstract: This article uses studies and organizational trends to understand available solutions to the lack of quality health care access, especially for the poor and needy of local U.S. communities. The U.S. healthcare system seems to be moving toward the World Health Organization's recommendation for universal health coverage for healthcare sustainability. Healthcare trends and offered solutions are varied. Christian healthcare traditionally implements works of mercy guided by a Christian ethos embracing the teachings of human dignity, solidarity, the common good, and subsidiarity. Culture of Life Ministries is one of many new sustainable U.S. healthcare models which implements Christ-centered health care to meet the need of quality and accessible health care for the local community. Culture of Life Ministries employs a model of charity care through volunteerism. Volunteer workers not only improve but also transform the local healthcare system into a personal healing ministry of the highest quality for every person.Summary:The lack of access to quality health care is a common problem in the U.S. despite various solutions offered through legislative and socioeconomic works: universal healthcare models, insurance models, and other business models. U.S. health care would be best transformed by returning to the implementation of a traditional system founded on the Christian principles of human dignity, solidarity, subsidiarity, and the common good. Culture of Life Ministries is an example of such a local ministry in Texas, which has found success in practically applying these Christ-centered, healthcare principles into an emerging not-for-profit, economically sustainable, healthcare model.
authors.affiliation: Culture of Life Ministries, Harlingen, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cuellar De la Cruz
authors.affiliation: Culture of Life Ministries, Harlingen, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5967-4945
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robinson
keywords: Christian ethics; Christianity; Community; Cultural stigma; Health care access; Household impact; Morality; Poverty; Right to health; Solidarity; Volunteering