Project Access NOW eNewsletter: September 2009
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Consider the many ways to get involved with Project Access NOW
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Many of you who receive this e-newsletter are physicians or
health care providers volunteering your service to increase access to
health care. We simply would not exist were it not for your efforts - thank you!! There are many ways to meaningfully support our efforts beyond providing direct care (the rest of you still have opportunities;) No matter what your profession and what you're
already doing, there are many paths to involvement. We ask you
to consider these ways of supporting our work in helping people get the
care they need:
1. Support our work with a donation of funds.
We just made donating easy: we invite you to donate online on our
website with PayPal. You don't have to have a PayPal account to donate
online - all major credit cards are accepted.
What will your donation achieve? For example:
- $50 will provide a Project Access NOW patient's prescription medication for one month
- $100 will pay for a Project Access NOW patient's transportation, interpretive service and care coordination needs for one month
- $250 will connect four patients to donated medical services and care coordination for six months
- $500 will connect a Project Access patient to health care, ancillary services, needed hospital based treatments and medications for one 6 month enrollment period.
Why
are we looking to add more physicians and other health care providers to
the list of more than 2,200 that are already participating? First, there will always be more need than we can meet but we continually strive to do more. Secondly, the more
volunteer providers participate, the less of a load participation is for every volunteer. It's all about sharing the care.
3. Volunteer your time as a community volunteer. All of the work behind the scenes is what makes Project Access NOW work smoothly. One of the ways we keep costs down and still provide high quality services is to enlist community volunteers to help with a variety of tasks including patient surveys, data entry, medication assistance applications and much more. Contact Lorraine Williams at 503.222.6541 or Lorrraine@projectaccessnow.org to explore the available options.
4. Tell others about Project Access NOW. As you consider the many ways to support the low-income uninsured through Project Access NOW, you likely know many people who have an interest in health care and a desire to make a difference. Especially during these times of decision around health care reform, people are excited and engaged and yet often feel helpless because policy and reform are such big and complex and important concepts that take a great deal of time to actually be implemented. In addition to writing legislators and advocating for your personal beliefs about health care reform, whatever they may be, volunteers, supporters and funders of Project Access NOW and its partners make a difference in real people's lives. Please invite those people in your circle of family, friends and acquaintances to be a part of connecting people to health care. Today.
The need for access to health care is growing. Thanks to your support, Project Access NOW, in collaboration with many other organizations, is able to grow the capacity of our community to care for the most vulnerable among us. Your continued support is crucial to the success our our collaborative effort. Thank you for all that you do as we work together to care for the low-income, uninsured.
Sincerely,
Linda Nilsen-Solares
Executive Director
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 After Girma W. moved from Ethiopia to the United States, he felt his
health deteriorate, which was devastating for the trained pharmacist. He began to suffer from intermittent headaches and
chest pain. He was getting increasingly weak and tired. He lost a lot
of weight. The job he found after several months of searching came with
no health insurance and paid too little to pay for health care or
insurance premiums.
Then he discovered the North by Northeast Community Health Center ("NXNE"). He said, "Virginia Weeks [Clinic Coordinator at NXNE] received me with an open heart." Virginia also enrolled Girma in Project Access.
Dr. Thaler conducted an extensive physical examination, after which he recommended additional blood tests at Legacy Emmanuel Medical Center. "I was impressed," Girma said. "The doctor was very professional and caring."
Continue reading Girma's story.
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Thanking Dr. Jennifer Lyons and Oregon Eye Specialists
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 Dr. Jennifer Lyons, ophthalmologist with Oregon Eye Specialists transitioned into the Project Access system from volunteering with the Coalition of Community Health Clinics. "It's
easy," she said about her participation. "Project Access patients come
pre-screened, all the paperwork is taken care of, I don't have to go to
another location. I can just do my job."
As a specialty
physician, Dr. Lyons recognizes everyone sees uninsured or underinsured
patients, but she wishes more doctors would participate in Project
Access NOW. She said, "When it comes to working with Project Access NOW, it's a cinch. They set everything up, give me a one-page form with all the information I need, and I just do what I do."
Dr. Lyons recounted a story of a diabetic patient who would have ended
up blind had she not undergone laser surgery facilitated by Project
Access NOW. According to Dr. Lyons, "All the patients are thankful."
What's more, "Project Access patients are the cheapest free patients we
see. I don't have to do anything on the back end. I haven't had a
single no-show."
Read more about Dr. Lyons.
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Board member profile: Rob Delf
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 Rob Delf has been involved with healthcare issues his entire professional life. One of his projects as the director of the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland was Doctors Offering Community Service (DOCS), a partnership with the Coalition of Community Health Clinics in Multnomah County, which matched patients with volunteer physicians. DOCS later became an integral part of the regional effort that morphed into Project Access NOW.
To Rob, the idea of Project Access NOW
is consistent with the Medical Society's mission: "Physicians creating
the best environment in which to care for patients." And that includes
access. Rob should know - he's been with the Medical Society for 27
years.
Rob sees Project Access as "the best collaborative effort I know. It reflects the commitment and compassion of those involved." The regional approach that Project Access NOW embodies "made all the difference in the world in creating access to healthcare for those who wouldn't otherwise have any."
Read more about Rob Delf.
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Project Access NOW Quick Data |
As of August 31, 2009
- Patients enrolled: 1977
- Number of prescriptions filled: 2,418
- Cost per prescription: $17.46
- Patients served by Pharmacy Bridge receiving medication: 448
- Patients connected with Medication Assistance Programs (MAP): 105
- Value of medication received through MAP: $83,851
- Savings on purchased medications: $119,204
- Patient contribution toward medication: $8,911
- Charges for medical services provided: more than $5,000,000
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Join us for these upcoming events |
The Key to Our Future: Effectiveness - November 3rd
Caring
for the uninsured is important work that is near and dear to our
hearts. The need is growing and we have a vision of expanding access to
health care quickly and sustainably. Our volunteer and partner
community is the life-force of Project Access NOW. And our future depends upon your effectiveness - and our gratitude for your effectiveness.
To
thank and enrich our community of fabulous volunteers we are offering a
series of mini-workshops that will help us expand our contribution.
These sessions will be lively, interactive, and fun...and there's food!
Paul Werder, from LionHeart Consulting, will be sharing his unique perspective on a variety of topics including:
- Renewing your energy for service
- The power of your word
- Holding others accountable
- Moving others to action
Our first session will take place Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Our location will be the Project Access NOW office (2145 NW Overton, Portland, Oregon)
or other nearby venue, depending upon the size of the group. Additional
sessions will be scheduled with input from those who choose to
participate.
Please register with Lorraine at lorraine@projectaccessnow.org by Tuesday, October 27th, so we can be sure to prepare a light dinner for the right number of people. Please attend so we can say thank you in a meaningful way.
Health Care Reform and Project Access NOW - November 10th
The Project Access NOW
Board of Directors is honored to invite you to a discussion about
health care reform efforts on the state and national levels. Please
join us for information and interactive discussion about what the
health care reform efforts mean for the present and future of Project
Access NOW and the portion of our mission that we share with so many of you.
Please join us on November 10th from 4:30 - 6:00 (ish) pm. Location to be determined.
We
will have refreshments and beverages available and look forward to an
informative, interactive and relaxed experience together. Details
regarding guest presenters and the agenda will be available in the
October e-Newsletter.
If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Linda at linda@projectaccessnow.org at your earliest convenience but no later than October 30th so we can determine the venue and menu.
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Phone: 503.222.6541
Fax: 503.222.2932
Email
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