Project Access NOW eNewsletter: May 2010
|
Health care reform and Project Access NOW
|
Many people have asked us what the health care reform means for us: Will we no longer be needed? Will we go out of business? I wish we had a simple answer. Despite the health care reform becoming law, Project Access NOW will still need to be around, albeit with an evolving role.
First, the reform is going to take a significant amount of time to really start changing the face of healthcare as we know it. Folks won't see benefit from the reform until 2 to 4 years from now, if not longer. We're serving patients today. That the reform bill has been enacted doesn't mean we no longer have to care for the uninsured - we do. The uninsured are among us and will be for many years.
Secondly, the reform is an experiment. The law will probably undergo changes, and what we'll start seeing on the ground will likely be different than the current law.
Finally, in addition to serving the low-income uninsured, we are also a relational infrastructure. Writing and implementing policy are two different things, both of which take a lot of work. Project Access NOW works with people and organizations on both the policy development and implementation sides. We're on the ground, helping to build links and relationships across systems - among stakeholders who are trying to create a better system while often not working together. As we work to build the infrastructure to implement health care reform, the need for our services persists.
Thank you for sharing this journey with us.
Sincerely,
Linda Nilsen-Solares
Executive Director
|
 In early 2009, Larry noticed a sore spot on his tongue. Thinking his denture had caused it, he gave it little further thought. But when the sore grew and the dentist said it wasn't the denture, Larry got worried. With good reason: he said, "the biopsy came back positive for cancer."
Having no health insurance or the thousands of dollars to pay for the necessary care, Larry's dentist, Dr. Anderson referred him to Project Access Clark County. Soon, Larry got approved for further tests and eventually a surgery with Dr. Mitchell.
Losing a quarter of one's tongue meant Larry found it difficult to talk for a while. "I was babbling a lot," he said. "But doctors said the tongue will figure it out. We're still working on it."
Continue reading Larry's story.
|
Thanking Dr. Amy Morris and Kaiser Permanente
|
 Dr. Amy Morris worked at Kaiser Permanente as a general surgeon for several years before she learned about a Bay Area program that helped the under- and uninsured get needed surgery. Interested in replicating the community-wide effort in Portland, she got introduced to Linda Nilsen-Solares at the same time Project Access NOW was getting off the ground.
"We were trying to take care of the same issue," Dr. Morris said. "I thought it would be a great way for Kaiser to participate in Project Access."
Dr. Morris became a surgeon champion for the program at Kaiser. "I had lots of support from our community benefit program," she said. "Both the physician group and the health plan administration came together to partner on it."
According to Dr. Morris, one of the main benefits of participation as a surgeon is coordination. "As a surgeon I'm happy to volunteer my time, but surgery takes place in an environment where it's much more difficult to coordinate resources. Project Access NOW provides that umbrella."
Continue reading about Dr. Morris.
|
Quench your thirst with NedWater
|
 We recently switched our water service to NedWater Liquid Change. Why? Not only did we get a good deal on water service, NedWater also invited us to participate in their Better World Partner program. In the program,
"[p]articipating nonprofit organizations that successfully get their business supporters to switch to NedWater get a permanent, regularly recurring 20 percent share of the revenue coming from those water customers. No strings, no joke. And it continues for as long as the business supporter continues as a NedWater community member."
You can support Project Access NOW simply by switching your water service to NedWater. First, once five contracts sign up through us, we get the water for free, resulting in considerable savings. After that, the more companies or offices subscribe, the more unrestricted, sustaining funds flow to support access to healthcare for the low-income uninsured!
Thank you for your support!
|
 Had it not been for a friend who told him about the Essential Health Clinic in Tigard, Luis would have died of cancer. Care Coordinator Kari Halvorson helped him enroll in Project Access, and scheduled a colonoscopy with Dr. Jeffrey Douglass at Gastroenterology Specialists of Oregon.
"Kari did everything," Luis said. "She connected me with all the doctors, set up the appointments, and called me to remind me of them. If I had been on my own, I wouldn't have got the care."
When the procedure revealed the presence of cancer, Dr. Douglass connected Luis with Dr. Kathleen Fielder at Northwest Cancer Specialists and Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center. Soon, Luis started chemotherapy and radiation, and underwent a surgery.
"Chemotherapy destroys you," Luis said, pointing to his blackened hands. "I haven't been able to work in months. I have lower defenses, and no energy. I can't touch anything cold. But Dr. Fielder said it's normal. She also said I have no more cancer in my body. Because of that, I am really thankful for Project Access."
Read more about Luis.
|
Board member profile: Jan Hochstatter
|
 Jan Hochstatter learned about the Project Access model about half way into her 20-year tenure as Executive Director of the Clackamas County Medical Society. It would take the other half for Project Access to launch in Clackamas County.
According to Jan, the main obstacle in getting the program going was the lack of a free clinic that could be used as a portal. "Out of three safety net clinics the County had," Jan said, "two - in Sandy and in Molalla - have closed in the last two years due to budget constraints. The third one is slated to close within a year or so."
As Project Access NOW director Jan helped get Project Access programs going in the other Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area counties. When that job was completed, she and other stakeholders revisited the idea of Project Access in Clackamas County.
"Two years ago," Jan said, "a group of citizens and organizations concerned about access to healthcare in Clackamas County launched the Clackamas Health Access Initiative ("CHAI"), now a stand alone 501c(3) nonprofit. We have people representing various aspects of medical care, such as the Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, functional service groups, some insurance companies, social workers, County Health and Housing Division and others. Our main focus is addressing access issues in Clackamas County."
Read more about Jan and Clackamas County Project Access.
|
In-kind donation wish list
|
As any organization, in addition to funds we have in-kind needs for items to help us better serve the low-income uninsured. Here's our list for April.
Auto-feeding scanners (we REALLY need these!)
Printer/copier - for medium to heavy use
Headsets (Avaya compatible) 10 key calculators Copy paper Cleaning service - 4 post server rack or cabinet
If you or someone you know would like to donate these items, call us at 503.413.5541.
|
Support Project Access NOW and work on Mastering Effectiveness |
Fifty-one percent of sales of LionHeart Consulting's Mastering Effectiveness course through this link and our website will go to Project Access NOW.
This month, consider LionHeart's perspective on The Gift of Tough Love:
There is nothing more precious than the colleague who will hold you to your highest standards of excellence. Traditionally, accountability occurred between the hierarchical authority and the subordinate. Accountability with heart can occur among anyone with heart - and in all directions. It has nothing to do with hierarchy. It is all about excellence and our commitment to one another. It boils down to who in your world loves you enough to never let you settle for mediocrity or being limited by your blind spot!
Read more.
|
|
