Project Access NOW eNewsletter: November 2009
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The challenges of success |
Thanks to you, we've gone a long way
since March 2008 when the first four patients enrolled in Project
Access NOW. We have now served 2,535 patients, with cumulative charges
for donated services exceeding $7 million. What's even more
encouraging are improvements in our efficiency measures. Our return
on community investment increased from 674% last fiscal year to 786%
in the first quarter of this fiscal year. In the same period, the
cost per enrollment went down from $501 to $340.
Success comes with challenges. As our
service gets established in the healthcare community, we get more
referrals. For the first time since our inception, we have a patient
waiting list - more than 50 low-income uninsured patients are now in
line for specialty services. While we know may not reach the capacity
to meet all the need in the community, we also know we have a long
way to go in engaging the healthcare community.
Under our share the care principle, the
care for the uninsured is distributed equitably among providers. We
send to our physician volunteers only as many patients as they agree
to see. Oncologist Dr. Jeffrey Menashe summarized it best:
"If there are more physicians
participating, it benefits patients who can't afford care, and
it benefits other practices, which get to share the responsibility. Wide
participation helps create a more fair system of healthcare for which
we're all accountable. I wouldn't feel good if another physician
was accepting more uninsured patients and suffering as a result. All
oncology groups agreed to be in the pool to share patients without
insurance equally. It's a very equitable deal, where everyone's
happy to provide care without carrying all the weight."
Other Project Access NOW physician
volunteers have highlighted the ease of participation. Just three
voices out of more than 2,200 volunteer physicians participating in
Project Access NOW:
- Ophthalmologist Dr. Jennifer Lyons
said, "Project Access patients are the cheapest free patients
we see. I don't have to do anything on the back end."
- Urologist
Dr. Thomas Pitre said, "Project Access takes care of all the
logistics and allows me to do what I do best: practice urology."
- Gastroenterologist
Dr. Sandra Wilborn said, "I like it that Project Access
organizes and structures the care for the uninsured. It's an easy
process. They take care of everything."
We ask you, physicians and other
healthcare providers, to join us and our volunteer physicians in the effort to get the most
vulnerable in our community the care they need. Today.
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Linda Nilsen-Solares
Executive Director
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When Mary's severe cold in the winter of 2008 turned into a chronic sinus infection, she sought help at Portland Adventist Community Services (PACS). With no health insurance, PACS was the only place Mary could find.
The sinus infection wouldn't go away, however. She said, "I couldn't look for a job. I was in constant pain and coughing all the time."
Nancy Huck, nurse practitioner at PACS, referred Mary to Project Access, and in January 2009 Mary began to see Dr. Sautter, otolaryngologist at OHSU.
Continue reading Mary's story.
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Thanking Dr. Sheffield and
Gastroenterology Specialists of
Oregon
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 When Dr. Michael Sheffield, partner at Gastroenterology Specialists of Oregon (GSO), heard the request by Project Access NOW staff for specialists to join the program, it seemed like "something we could do". Every one at GSO
got quickly on board - it took little persuasion to see the benefits of
participation for community health and for people without access to
care.
Dr. Sheffield and GSO, where he's worked for 16 years, have been a part of Project Access NOW for two years. His evaluation of the program was pretty straightforward.  "The beauty of the program is that patients come pre-screened and referred
by primary care physicians. Plus it's a very easy organization to work
with - always respectful of our time and energy and always open to
suggestions for improvement."
Read more about Dr. Sheffield and Gastroenterology Specialists of Oregon.
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Judge Hicks wins Bank of America's Local Heroes Award
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Bank of America has recognized the contribution of Judge
Hicks, past chair, to the establishment and growth of Project
Access NOW with its Local Heroes Award. According to the Bank, Local
Heroes are people "who champion causes vital to their communities,
who inspire others to get involved, [and] who have special and
significant impact on individuals, families, or communities."
The
invitation-only award ceremony will take place on November 19th
in the Bank's downtown Financial Center. With the award comes a $5,000
contribution to Project Access NOW.
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Board member profile: Tracy Gratto
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 Tracy Gratto got involved with Project Access NOW in her capacity as Executive Director of the Coalition of Community Health Clinics.
The Coalition's mandate to provide primary care for uninsured patients
through its network of safety health clinics in Multnomah County led
Tracy to help create a model for the entire Portland/Vancouver
metropolitan area region.
After working with the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland and other partner organizations around the metro area, she was finally able to conclude, "I was excited to help transform our specialty network into a robust regional safety net solution."
Read more about Tracy Gratto.
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Project Access NOW Quick Data |
As of October 31, 2009
- Patients enrolled:
2,535
- Number of
prescriptions filled: 3,156
- Cost per prescription:
$16.68
- Patients served
by Pharmacy Bridge receiving medication: 549
- Value of medication
received through MAP: $99,330
- Charges for
medical services provided: $7M+
- Patient satisfaction: 9.1/10
- No show rate: 3.5%
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Mastering effectiveness has many benefits |
The work
of making a difference in our community is not easy - yet it is the
road we have all chosen to walk. Our environment is changing daily and
we have more challenges (and opportunities) than ever. Our personal and
collective abilities to master effectiveness are more important than
ever....and it is a marathon not a sprint!
I have been working with Lionheart Consulting and
their Mastering Effectiveness program for the last eight months and
have found it to be a very positive and empowering experience. I am
sharing information with you about the Mastering Effectiveness Self
Study program for two reasons: 1) I really believe that it works and
2) If you choose to purchase the curriculum and do so from a link on our website, 51% of the sales come directly to Project Access NOW.
Ultimately, the work we do can not be accomplished
by any one of us alone. At the same time, the effectiveness of each of
us is crucial to our collective success. Mastering Effectiveness has
been a great resource for me because it has helped me work on my
personal capabilities as well as my ability to work collaboratively in
community.
To get more information about Mastering
Effectiveness, read this article, which gives some
more information. Thanks for all of your support for Project Access NOW
and I look forward to much effectiveness as we move forward together!
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Phone: 503.413.5541
Fax: 503.413.5932
Email
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