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 July:
* Auto-feeding
scanners (we REALLY need
these!)
*
Headsets
(Avaya compatible)
* 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.
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With the start of our new fiscal year we find ourselves continually grateful for in-kind support we receive from our partners. Since our beginnings, we've enjoyed in-kind support from all area hospital systems and a number of other healthcare stakeholders. In fact, the majority of our administrative costs is covered by in-kind contributions. For example:
- Legacy Health provides our office space and phone service. We recently moved into a new and larger space at 1311 NW 21st Ave., right around the corner from our previous building. As we expanded our staff and look to increase our volunteer base, we ran out of space in the previous office, also provided by Legacy. We're fortunate to have the support of our board member Kari Stanley and her colleagues at Legacy Health, who not only found the space for us but also supported us through the move and its logistical challenges.
- Providence Health Services is providing in-kind professional services for our Pharmacy Bridge program infrastructure, specifically the donate access to their pharmacy benefit management service that allows our patients to get medications for $4 co-pay in virtually any area pharmacy.
- CareOregon and Columbia United Providers supply the administrative infrastructure for our claims data collection. Which allows us to report and evaluate the value of the work we do.
Last fiscal year the value of in-kind contributions from just these four providers amounted to over $50,000. In total, all hospital systems, healthcare providers, and other volunteers donated more than $15 million in charges of healthcare services last fiscal year.
The result of this support? Consider, for example, more than 3,200 patients served in the past 12 months, 36% reduction in emergency room use, 55% reduction in cost per patient (since 2009) and 1,684% return on investment for last fiscal year. We could not have done this without our many partners. Thanks to all of you for your support. We need everyone working together to continue to connect people to healthcare. Today. Sincerely, Linda Nilsen-SolaresExecutive Director |
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 Brandon Y. graduated from business school thinking he didn't need health insurance. But when he tore his ACL a month later and applied for insurance so he could get back to work as a martial arts instructor, he said he "was out of luck. No one would take me."
He sought help at the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, where the doctor said that not only did Brandon need his meniscus repaired, he was developing arthritis.
"I'm 22 years old," Brandon said. "It was horrible to hear that."
After the Clinic's referral to Project Access Clark County, Brandon underwent a surgery with Dr. Jerome DaSilva, orthopedic surgeon at the Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital. Brandon said, "I was out for some time, but I can walk now. My students are happy to see me." |
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Thanking Dr. Katherine Morris
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When oncological surgeon Dr. Katherine Morris saw a patient who also needed a neurologist, she called many doctors around Portland until she stumbled upon Wallace Medical Center, which arranged for treatment right away, just as Project Access NOW was forming.
"Once I saw [Project Access NOW] in action, I wanted to be a part of it," Dr. Morris said.
Because getting people the care they need without health insurance used to involve calling friends for favors, Dr. Morris appreciates how Project Access NOW makes charity care simple. It actually reduces the workload!
"Now I can just help the patient and not worry about anything else," she said. |
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In the media: Goodness Magazine
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 Portland-based Goodness Magazine published a nice story on Project Access NOW in June. Janna Holm writes:
"Regardless of how you feel about the current healthcare reform, the fact remains that the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan are is home to more than 200,000 low-income, uninsured people."
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Board member profile: Marie Dahlstrom
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 When Marie Dahlstrom learned about the Project Access model while serving on United Way of the Columbia-Willamette's Health Access Committee, she advocated for creating a similar organization in the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area.
Since then, Marie said, "as someone who's been involved in the creation of Project Access NOW, I've been absolutely ecstatic to see it launch and grow."
As director of research and development at Familias en Accion, a health organization for Latinos, Marie works primarily with Latinos, who are overrepresented among the uninsured. She runs the organization's Cancer Patient Navigator Program, where Project Access NOW executive director Linda Nilsen-Solares sits on the advisory board. Before Project Access NOW, uninsured Latinos with cancer had an extremely difficult time to get care, if they could get it at all.
"We'd receive calls from folks diagnosed with cancer, but we had no resources to tap into and nowhere to send them," Marie said. "Physicians would tell them-even to people who have been here for years-to seek care in their country of origin."
Marie joined the Project Access NOW board in April 2010 as its newest member.
Continue reading >
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Tompkins Benefit Group helps with our expansion
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With the recent expansion of our services and staff, we've moved to a new, bigger office around the corner on 21st Avenue (1311 NW 21st Ave.). In a great example of perfect timing, one of our long-time supporters, Debbie Tompkins, called us around the time we found out we would be moving, to offer a donation of office furniture from her company's recently closed Bend office.
Debbie enlisted her family-husband and two sons-to deliver the furniture on a Saturday afternoon. They not only brought it to our door, they placed it where we thought it
would work best!
The donated items include:
- 3 work desks
- 2 file cabinets
- coffee table
- tall book case
- conference room table
- 8 conference room chairs
- 3 office chairs with mats
- big plant
- microwave
- binding machine
Soon after the delivery, Debbie saw our wish list in the June enewsletter (see above, left), and promptly couriered to us a ten-key calculator and several reams of copy paper.
Thank you, Debbie and Tompkins Benefit Group, for your tremendous continued support!
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New staff profile: Janet Hamilton
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 As we mentioned in the June enewsletter, the new fiscal year has heralded a significant growth for our organization, as we added care coordination services for Multnomah and Clackamas Counties. Supporting the transition is Janet Hamilton, in the new position of Director of Operations, who will manage the expansion of services and help create more capacity to absorb the change.
"The combination of expanding the regional program and incorporating local programs into our regional operations led to growth from 4 to 9 employees and the need to incorporate even more volunteers to support our efforts," Janet said. "In addition, we are excited about the cultural changes for our organization, inherent in such a significant transition." |
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Master effectiveness and benefit Project Access NOW
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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 "Moving the Jerk to Positive Action":
First of all, there's no such thing as a jerk. There are, however, good people who exhibit jerky behavior. And if you want to get philosophical about it, "You are what you judge" is one of our favorite teachings. In the act of judging someone to be a jerk and uncommitted, you are in fact in that moment being a jerk and uncommitted. Think about it! |
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