It takes creativity, resourcefulness, and grit to sustain vital healthcare services for nearly 40 years. At CommonSpirit's SET Family Medical Clinics, the one thing never in short supply is humankindness.
SET (Service, Empowerment, Transformation) was founded by the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters in 1988 with a clear mission: to serve people in Colorado Springs who are uninsured, underinsured, or enrolled in Medicaid.
Today, the program operates two crucial locations:
- A family medicine clinic that provides comprehensive primary care.
- An urgent care clinic specifically designed to meet the needs of people who are unhoused, located discreetly within the Marian House soup kitchen in the heart of the city.
SET is powered by a "small but mighty team" comprising dedicated nurse practitioners, physicians, behavioral health specialists, nurses, and medical assistants. Many of these team members generously volunteer their time.
"A lot of our patients have been turned away by society and even by some healthcare professionals. It's important to me to let them know we see them, to let them know somebody cares," says Stephanie Ryan, RN, clinical lead for the SET Program. "We treat our patients with the same dignity and respect we would offer anyone walking through our doors."
This approach is crucial for building trust, especially with patients who may be wary of the "system" and reluctant to seek care.
The High Cost of Untreated Care
Avoiding necessary medical treatment carries tremendous costs, both for individuals and the wider community. An illness or injury that could be easily and affordably managed in a primary care setting can escalate, leading to costly emergency room visits or even tragic outcomes. Over 30% of the patients seen at the urgent care clinic for people who are unhoused indicated they would resort to the ER if SET services were unavailable.
The SET team provides a wide range of essential services: from diagnosing common illnesses like COVID-19 or the flu, to cleaning and bandaging wounds, to managing chronic conditions such as diabetes or asthma, to conducting well-child checkups and annual exams. They also expertly connect patients to vital behavioral health services, substance abuse treatment, and other medical specialists.
But their impact extends far beyond traditional medical care. They offer practical support like clean socks, provide comforting hugs, distribute bus tickets, and help navigate complex paperwork – bridging gaps that often prevent people from accessing the care they need.
Diverse Needs, Dedicated Care
There's no “typical” patient at SET, says Dr. Meagan Jones, Medical Director. Patients span all ages, from newborns to the elderly. The main clinic serves many young, working families alongside individuals over 65 who don't qualify for Medicare, those working but living out of their vehicles, and people whose income is too high for insurance assistance but too low for traditional healthcare. The urgent care clinic sees approximately 100 people who are unhoused each month.
SET caregivers often wear many hats, needing creative solutions for seemingly simple support. For example, delivering test results becomes a challenge when a patient doesn't have a phone. Counseling a newly diagnosed diabetic about diet is difficult when they live in a car without access to refrigeration or a stove. Medicine, already complex, becomes even more so for this population.
Ryan recounts helping a patient in his 70s who, through no fault of his own, lost his apartment and ended up living on the streets. His identification was stolen, preventing him from accessing his funds. The SET team treated him for frostbite two winters in a row while community partners provided crucial "handholding" to help him replace his documents and ultimately find a home in an assisted living center.
"Truly, it was not his fault. He did nothing wrong," Ryan said. "People fall through the cracks all the time."
A Calling Rooted in Compassion
While the individual patient stories are often complex, for Kathy Willemyns, a retired nurse practitioner who has volunteered with the SET Family Medical Clinic for over 35 years, her calling is clear.
"God created us equally and in His image. People experiencing homelessness have every right to compassionate care. Period. That's the bottom line for me."
Almost 40 years later, the heart of the Franciscan Sisters' mission is still vibrant and well. This spirit of compassion and humankindness, coupled with CommonSpirit's mission to make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve — especially those who are vulnerable — is actively transforming lives in Colorado Springs.
While the SET Family Medical Clinics operate with the unwavering support of CommonSpirit Health and a robust network of partners like Catholic Charities, the Colorado Springs Fire Department, and Faith in Action nurses, Dr. Jones acknowledges that there is more need than the SET Family Medical Clinics can currently meet.
Join Our Mission
If you are interested in joining us in our call to help those who are most vulnerable, please consider making a gift online (Note: please choose "PSF Community Services SET" from the dropdown menu of designation options). Additionally, learn about opportunities for volunteering.
