Project Access NOW Open HouseTuesday, 9/14/105:30-7:30 pm1311 NW 21st. Ave., Portland, OR- See our new space - Backyard grilling - Wine tasting - FREE - RSVP to Lorraine@projectaccessnow.orgEssential Health Clinic's Golf Tournament FundraiserThursday, 9/30/1011:30 amPumpkin Ridge Golf Club, 12930 Old Pumpkin Ridge Rd., North Plains, OR- $125 - More info >SAVE THE DATE: Bridges to Healthcare
Thursday, 4/7/11Hilton Portland, 921 SW 6th Ave., Portland, Ore.- Dinner - Silent Auction - FREE - Join us for the 2nd annual event! |
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 August:
* 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.
Thank you for your support!
|
|
When we started accepting patients in March 2008, we were proud that we could leverage $7.86 worth of health care for each dollar spent, and the cost per enrollment was $501. That's an impressive 786% return on community investment, but we knew we could do better. And we have! In the 2009-2010 fiscal year, we increased the return on community investment to 1,766% and lowered the cost per enrollment to $281. We're thrilled with our progress. It indicates that the real value of Project Access NOW is not only in direct service coordination but also in how much we can leverage through effective collaboration and dedicated volunteers. It's less a reflection on what we do and more on how we do it. It's also a compliment to and celebration of all of our partners, particularly United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. We're grateful for this strategic partnership, which has provided us with stable funding and has maximized the synergies between our partner organizations. With the unknowns of the healthcare reform, we look forward to expanding our partnership with United Way as we continue to build infrastructure and provide services for the health of our community. In addition to the improvements in financial efficiencies, we've helped our low-income uninsured patients improve their health outcomes. People receiving services through Project Access NOW report better health status after their participation than before. Project Access patients' use of the emergency department went down 36% from pre-program participation levels, a huge savings to the community. Patients and volunteer providers feel good about Project Access NOW. These and many more outcomes appear in our first full Program Outcomes Evaluation, which we look forward to sharing with you in September. Until then, thank you for your continued support! Please check out our new Side Bar - Upcoming Events. We want you all to come to our Open House on September 14th! Save the Date for our Bridges to Healthcare Dinner in April 2011 and support one of our partners, The Essential Health Clinic, in its upcoming golf tournament.Sincerely, Linda Nilsen-SolaresExecutive Director |
|
 Sandy's health got so bad she couldn't walk. With health insurance through her husband's work being "too expensive to buy," she finally went to the Rosewood Family Health Center where certified physician's assistant Gina Rao recommended she enroll in Project Access NOW.
To hear Sandy tell it, the ensuing 18-month battle with skin cancer sounds almost smooth. She saw a a dermatologist, who did a biopsy; then she saw a gastroenterologist who had her in for a colonoscopy. Finally, OHSU's Dr. Daniel Herzig performed a surgery to remove the growth.
|
|
Thanking Dr. Smiley and NW Renal Clinic
|
Dr. Clayton Smiley became a volunteer with Project Access NOW when he joined Northwest Renal Clinic. Having practiced in the military prior to joining the group, Dr. Smiley hadn't done charity care before.
"It's a non-bureaucratic, user-friendly program, and a wonderful experience to be a part of," he said.
Dr. Smiley recognizes that physicians "want to take care of patients. Most don't care whether the patient has health insurance."
What's more, the program gives Dr. Smiley an opportunity "to take care of [uninsured] patients. I have something I can give and I want to do it in the best way possible. I'm glad I can provide the service."
|
|
Partner highlight: Free Clinic of SW Washington
|
 Free Clinic of SW Washington operates Project Access Clark County in Southwest Washington. Since 2008, Project Access Clark County has enrolled 852 patients.
Project Access rounds out the Free Clinic's program portfolio. Their medical program provides urgent care, vision care, health screenings and immunizations. The dental program includes urgent adult and children's care and preventative care for children.
According to Free Clinic's Executive Director Barbe West, "The partnership with Project Access NOW is very important. It allows for collaboration with the regional health systems and access to the Providence pharmacy benefit program".
|
|
Goodbye Margaret, welcome (again) Britt
|
 The Pharmacy Bridge program has a new manager! Following in Margaret Lamb's footsteps is now Britt Howe.
We were so fortunate hiring Margaret (left) back in 2008. At the time, there was no Pharmacy Bridge, just an idea and a few pieces of the puzzle. Margaret had the right skill set, intelligence, and temperament to establish the program in collaboration with the Coalition of Community Health Clinics and Providence Health Plan.
Pharmacy Bridge is one of the most valuable services we offer to the community: it gets low-income uninsured patients the medications they need in a way that's convenient, affordable, and efficient. In the last fiscal year, almost $600,000 worth of medication was provided at no cost through Pharmacy Bridge.
We're really grateful to Margaret and we're going to miss her. We're thrilled for her and proud of her, though, because she'll be pursuing her dream: she's starting a graduate program in musical theater at Boston Conservatory. We've enjoyed watching her local performances and can't wait to see her on Broadway!
 A sign of Margaret's integrity and commitment to the program was her five-month notice, which allowed her to train her replacement. Britt Howe (right) had come to us during the H1N1 scare to work on a pilot care coordination project, funded by Kaiser Permanente and Providence. The flu didn't hit the community as hard as anticipated, which allowed Britt to develop our primary care coordination guidelines, which we're now implementing.
When Margaret announced her departure, Britt expressed interest in taking over the program. Having worked with us for some time, she up to speed on what the program needs, and we know she has the right skills and passion for helping people.
"Stepping into my new role as the Pharmacy Resource Specialist has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. With the help of our invaluable community volunteers and interns, the Pharmacy Bridge program supports the varied pharmaceutical needs of our patients. The increasing number of community volunteer hours will grow our Medication Assistance Program, which will increase our capacity to support more patients within Project Access NOW."
We're fortunate to have Britt on board!
|
|
Master effectiveness and benefit Project Access NOW
|
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 "Success = Doing Whatever It Takes."
A professional services person we know was having a difficult time making his living in 2009. Track record, network, and excellent skills were insufficient to mitigate the effects of our economic recession. Our hero had spent decades making it happen, but now he couldn't break through.
|
|
|
|
|
