Project Access NOW eNewsletter: December 2008
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by Linda Nilsen-Solares
Martin Luther King Jr. once said "The ultimate measure of a man is not where
he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands
at times of challenge and controversy." We are squarely in the middle of one of those 'times of challenge
and controversy'. The health care crisis, the economic crisis,
and all of the challenges small and large that we face as human beings
tend to occupy far more of our thoughts as we come to the end of a calendar
year. We worry about ourselves (our retirement funds), our families
and our neighbors. If there wasn't enough before, how could
there possibly be enough now?
Nonetheless, we still find hope. Whether it is a "zen" consciousness or a stubborn belief in the
human spirit and our ability to survive and thrive, if you are reading
this, chances are you are at least willing to entertain the thought
that we have reason to be hopeful.
The primary hope of Project Access
NOW is that individuals and organizations working collaboratively can
create something that is more than the mere sum of their parts. There are so many good things happening in our community in response
to the human need for health care. Our hope is that by organizing
ourselves and our resources we will be able to serve people in need
today while working on larger "systems issues" over time.
There is plenty of work to do in 2009 and beyond. There is no
one answer to the crisis we face. We should celebrate all of the good
work that has been done and then promptly get on with the work that
remains.
As you consider your end of year charitable
giving, you know that there are many worthy organizations in need.
We encourage you to consider ways that you can support Project Access
NOW and all of our non-profit partners, through direct funding, donation of equipment or materials,
or through the donation of your time. Think of who you can invite
to become a part of this magnificent opportunity to connect people to
health care. Today.
Sincere thanks for all that you have
done to support our organization during its start up phase. We
are excited about the many opportunities we face and we look forward
to facing them in collaboration with our partners and supporters. Many blessings to you all - Happy Holidays!
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While Linda's message is one of
hope, mine is one of intense gratitude. When I look back over
the last five years in which the seminal strains of organization appeared,
became entwined, and subsequently braided themselves into Project Access
NOW, I could not have dreamed that we would have such a broad and robust
program to offer to the citizens of the metropolitan area in need of
medical care who have no resources to call on for help.
Such an effort has not been without
both incredible volunteer and professional contributions. To try
to mention all who have played roles in this evolution would invariably
leave someone out, but the list is extensive. It is the first
experience I have had with active participation and leadership of a
charitable organization, and it has changed both my perspective and
appreciation for the depth of human compassion that I have witnessed.
As we pause at the end of a year and
a time of spiritual significance for many of us, I hope all that have
had a part in the increasing success Project Access NOW will know how
much the Executive Director, the Board, and I personally appreciate
your efforts and contributions. As we try to put aside the events
of the world and turn our thoughts toward peace on earth, we can do
so with the comfort that somewhere close by, the suffering of one of
our fellow citizens has been made more bearable by our efforts.
James S Hicks, MD
Chair of the Board
Project Access NOW
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Project Access NOW Quick Data |
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- Patients enrolled - 408
- Referrals made - 395
- Referral slots available - 2630
- Number of Prescriptions filled - 323
- Cost per Prescription - $24.57
- Patients receiving medication - 72
- Patients connected with Pharmacy Assistance Programs (PAP) - 14
- Value of medication received through PAP - $1,708
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Thanking John Evans, MD, and Oregon Anesthesiology Group |
The Oregon Anesthesiology Group was the
first large group to sign up to provide charity health care even
before Project Access NOW was established. The Group originally
worked with Doctors Offering Community Services (DOCS), which is now Project Access Multnomah County located in the Coalition of Community Health Clinics.
The Group signed up 200 physicians to
provide anesthesia services for up to 500 surgeries per year across the region. Following the
Group's lead, the OHSU Anesthesiology Group agreed to participate
shortly thereafter. Because of the Oregon Anesthesiology Group's
participation and leadership, ninety percent of Project Access
anesthesiology needs were met early in the model's existence.
Dr. Evans has been a supporter of Project Access NOW personally. He has signed up to take
Project Access NOW patients and, as Chair of the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland, one of the founders of Project Access
NOW, advocated for the Project Access model. We are grateful for his personal and professional leadership.
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Pharmacy Bridge has become a crucial component of the success of
Project Access NOW. In providing this pharmacy benefits management
program, Project Access NOW is fortunate to partner with Providence Health Plans and the Coalition of Community Health Clinics.
Helen Noonan-Harnsberger, Pharmacy Manager of Providence Health Plans, took early leadership of our efforts to create access to pharmaceuticals for Project Access NOW patients. Her personal
passion for our mission and her professional knowledge were instrumental
in creating the vision of Pharmacy Bridge. Helen and her staff (most
significantly Kyle McGinnis) worked with Project Access NOW and the Coalition of Community Health Clinics to create a system in which
low-income, uninsured patients have much more access and fewer barriers
to the medications they need. In addition to being easy to use,
Pharmacy Bridge allows us to be excellent stewards of our resources by
providing data and mechanisms that we can use to keep our costs down to
ensure we are able to serve as many people as possible.
Project Access patients can go to any pharmacy with a prescription from
a volunteer physician and get basic medications from a formulary list
for a $4 copay, much like patients who have health insurance. Project
Access NOW covers the remaining cost. Each patient has a limit on how
much Project Access NOW spends on medication. The program makes it easy
for physicians to prescribe medications and for patients to fill their
prescriptions. It's affordable for both patients and Project Access NOW.
If a medication is not on the formulary, Pharmacy Resource Specialist
Margaret Lamb, the newest addition to the Project Access NOW team, works
with patients to apply for pharmaceutical assistance programs and helps
them access other resources. Margaret works with volunteer pharmacists
to help her determine what is best for each patient. Pharmacy Bridge
offers to pharmacists what Project Access NOW offers to physicians - an
opportunity to volunteer in an organized system that makes a difference
in the lives of people in our community.
In the times of economic hardship, we anticipate more and more people
will be in need of this program. We're working with our partner
organizations to expand this significant low-cost medications resource
for the low-income uninsured patients. Washington County's Essential Health Clinic will join Pharmacy Bridge soon. Many thanks to Helen,
Kyle and all of the folks at Providence Health Plan for all of their
work. We also invite pharmacists from across the region to contact us
to see about volunteering to serve low-income, uninsured patients in our
community.
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Clark County Patient Success
Story
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A 62-year old female was referred
to Project Access Clark County (PACC) from one of our safety net clinics needing
to see a gastroenterologist for rectal bleeding. The patient was
screened for our program, enrolled and then sent to the gastroenterologist
to be seen. The
gastroenterologist, Dr. Mehdi Ferdows, then sent
the patient to have some blood work done and also performed a colonoscopy. A large tumor was found in her anal canal. A biopsy was done and
the patient was found to have cancer. Dr. Ferdows referred
the patient to both a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist.
Project Access Clark County connected her to Dr. Carrie Gotkowitz, a radiation oncologist, and Dr. Miklos Simon, medical oncologist, both of whom donated their care. At this time the patient is having both chemo
and radiation treatments for the next 6 weeks. According to her
doctors her prognosis is good and she is getting the treatment she needs.
She would not have had the
money to be seen at the gastroenterologist office to even have a colonoscopy
done to get the cancer diagnosis. The patient is getting treatment
for cancer through PACC and we have given her
the information to apply for Medicaid now that she has a cancer diagnosis. Her application for Medicaid is pending. So until she gets covered, PACC is still able to get her the treatment she needs
through the donation of services through our volunteer providers at Northwest Cancer Specialists and Pacific Gastroenterology.
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A Patient Story from Project Access Multnomah County |
by Tara J. Foley, Project Access Multnomah County
"I was constantly in pain, felt bad
all of the time and was nauseous every time I ate something. I
couldn't move without being in pain." This is what a patient,
who requested to remain anonymous, shared with me during a recent check-in
post surgery. "I've never really had anything go wrong with
my health and didn't know where to go to get help."
Without any health insurance he ended
up at Wallace Medical Concern, a volunteer organization that provides
neighborhood-based health care services and assistance to Portland-area
residents who face barriers to care. After an exam with one of
their volunteer medical providers, he was diagnosed with a severe hernia
and was referred to Project Access for help. "I was so happy
that someone was able to see me, figure out what was wrong and get me
the help that I needed."
Never having to deal with a health problem
before now left this patient scared and unsure about going through with
the surgery. After meeting with a Project Access volunteer medical
provider, Dr. Eric Friedman, he was put at ease and felt comfortable
receiving the surgery. "I was scared and he calmed me down. knew that I needed the surgery, but I wasn't sure about getting
it." He needed the surgery, not just to feel better but to start
working at the job he was offered.
"I was offered a job as a maintenance
tech but had to turn it down. I couldn't move without being
in pain and knew that I wouldn't be able to do the job." That
was before he met with Dr. Friedman and received the surgery that changed
his life. "After the surgery I called to see if the job was still
open. It was and a month later I started working." He
is now back on his feet, working hard and feeling better then he has
in years.
Thank you to Dr. Friedman and his office
for all of their help and support with Project Access. We could
not do this without out the support of volunteers like you!
Here's to your health!
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| Six-Month Report from Project Access Washington County |
Project Access Washington County (PAWC)
has recently completed our six-month report, and would like to share
some of our most important accomplishments with the Project Access NOW
community.
Overall, PAWC has met
and exceeded the initial goal of slots available to patients in need
of primary and specialty care in Washington County. Patient compliance
has been high, and there have been few complaints from participating
clinics. The challenge for the next six months will be meeting
our enrollment goals and expanding the program to other parts of the
safety net while maintaining the support patients need to navigate successfully
through the system.
Between April 1 and September 30, 2008,
Project Access Washington County received 222 referrals of patients
in need of primary care for a chronic condition or specialty care. Of 194 unique patients, 102 patients were enrolled in the program in
the first six months. At the end of the period, there were 13
pending applications and 79 patients had been denied enrollment.
The recent addition of a full-time Care Coordinator to the PAWC team
will allow for increased capacity in issuing and tracking referrals. We anticipate that this additional staff will be helpful in reducing
the rate of applications denied due to inability to contact the patient,
which was by far the most common reason for denial.
The average time from
original referral date to appointment date during the first six months
of PAWC was 5.2 weeks. There are elements of this process on which
PAWC can have an effect, including shortening the wait time to turn
in an application and being timely in reminding and supporting patients
about pending documentation. Other factors, such as the wait time
to see a physician, will be more difficult to influence.
PAWC's original goal
to increase access for low-income, uninsured individuals is being fulfilled,
yet there is still much to be done. The pending expansion of the
program to accept referrals from two additional safety net clinics will
increase the volume of patients, but PAWC will also begin looking ahead
to receiving referrals on a regular basis from volunteers and potentially
other sources. Growth, both in number volunteers and patients,
is essential to the program's continued success, and PAWC will ensure
that this growth happens quickly, but in a way which allows us to continue
to do efficient, effective work.
PAWC looks forward to
continuing to share out successes with the regional Project Access community. Please always feel free to contact us with questions or for further
details about our work, at 503.846.3627.
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Phone: 503.222.6541
Fax: 503.222.2932
Email
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