Many people would be astonished and even horrified at the gun violence stories that frequently make the headlines in Chicago. Not Dr. Daniel Ivankovich. “I’ve treated more than 200 gun violence victims in Chicago,” says Ivankovich. “These are the mean streets. People often call Chicago’s streets the killing fields.”
But gangs and gang related crime is not Ivankovich’s primary focus. For more than 20 years, he witnessed as countless people seeking medical treatment got turned away as they were either underinsured or not insured at all. “They were out on waiting lists for basic procedures. Many would have to wait for months and others for years to receive treatment,” he says. “Their injuries got worse as a result.”
How could this be happening in America?
Providing basic care to the poorest
“I couldn’t stand by and watch it anymore,” Ivankovitch says. “I had to do something.” Ivankotvitch founded the OnePatient Global Health Initiative in 2010. The non-profit’s mission was to provide treatment to patients whether they can afford to pay or not.
Dr. Ivankovich’s primary mission is to reach those who are on Medicaid or uninsured. “Many of those who are underinsured or uninsured ignore their health issues because they are forced to,” he says. “They often put off getting medical care until they can’t anymore. The emergency room becomes their source of medical care. They don’t receive the follow-up care they so badly need. Basic injuries therefore develop into life-threatening conditions.”
Many of the patients who come to Dr. Ivankovich’s clinic have already been turned down repeatedly by other physicians. Many are turned down up to 12 times for not having adequate or any insurance. “It’s heartbreaking to hear their struggles,” says Ivankovich.
Healing one patient at a time
The clinic offers orthopedic treatments including spinal reconstruction, sports medicine and major joint reconstruction with concentration on knees and hips. “Most of the day is spent in the operating room,” says the doctor. “We operate on anywhere between two to five cases in a single day. No patients are turned away at any of our clinics whether they have insurance or not.”
Dr. Ivankovitch continues to work to build a healthier future that is less painful and more mobile for those living in Chicago. “I know that I can’t treat everybody,” he admits. “I want to be a force that helps to break down the barriers that these patients face in getting the care they need by making the resource available to them.”
