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Bridges to Healthcare
Join us for the 2nd annual event!
- Thursday, April 7th, 2011
- Hilton Portland
- Dinner, silent auction, awards
- Free
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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 January:
- Auto-feeding scanners (we REALLY need these!)
- 4-post server rack or cabinet
- Headsets (Avaya compatible)
- Copy paper
- Cleaning service
If you or someone you know would like to donate these items, call us at 503.413.5541.
Thank you for your support!
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We're excited about this brand new year at Project Access NOW. As we look to increasingly meet the need in our community, we are focusing on growing two critical resources: volunteer healthcare providers and funding.
In addition to our consistent need for specialty care volunteers, we're working to expand our primary care volunteer provider pool. Access to primary care is critical in the foundation of an effective healthcare delivery system. Most preventable hospitalizations are connected to chronic conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, or high blood pressure - conditions for which access to primary care is critical for management. As a part of our efforts to expand access to primary care, we've partnered with the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians. Please take a minute to read their organizational profile below.
We are able to put those volunteers to good use because of the organizational infrastructure which requires funding. Dollars invested in Project Access NOW support care coordination, access to medications, and other patient services. The second annual Bridges to Healthcare event ties the volunteer element with the funding piece. This dinner event is the prime opportunity to celebrate and thank our volunteers, partners, and supporters. Last year, nearly 300 people joined us, and we're looking forward to hosting even more people this year to recognize the amazing, caring people in our community.
Bridges to Healthcare is also a fundraiser. While there is no cost to attend, there will be a silent auction and a paddle raise to give everyone in attendance an opportunity to contribute financially to our efforts.
In addition to attending the event, you can help our cause by becoming or referring sponsors for Bridges to Healthcare or donating items for the silent auction. Learn more about the event below.
The number of uninsured people isn't declining and unemployment remains high - times are difficult for the people we exist to serve. The natural outgrowth of this celebration is to sustain and grow what we're going. Thank you for your continued support.
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SAVE THE DATE: Bridges to Healthcare
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- What: 2nd Annual Bridges to Healthcare Celebration and Fundraiser
- When: Thursday, April 7th, 2011
- Where: Hilton Portland, 921, SW 6th Ave.
- Program: Provider Recognition, silent auction, dinner, paddle raise
- Cost: FREE (online registration coming soon)
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 At the end of 2008, La Rhonda S. started experiencing pain caused by fibroids, which grew over the course of the following year. Having no health insurance, La Rhonda turned to her naturopathic physician friends to deal with the worsening pain and anemia. But no remedies worked.
"I'm a musician," La Rhonda said. "The pain started to affect my daily life and my job. I had to take fewer gigs, and I still performed through the pain. It affected how I could care for my two young kids because I couldn't get out of bed, sometimes for days."
Then serendipity struck. A woman who had booked La Rhonda and her band for a concert and who happened to work at Self Enhancement Inc. recommended the North by Northeast Clinic Community Health Center. |
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Thanking Areté Sleep Health
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For Areté Sleep Health, Project Access NOW fills a significant gap in services. The accredited sleep lab, which conducts sleep disorder testing and treatment in four Portland/Vancouver area locations, was experiencing a constant stream of inquiries into free or pro bono care from safety net clinics.
"We had nothing to offer at the time," said Tamera Slack, Areté's area sales representative. "It's important for us to be involved in the community, so we partnered up with Project Access NOW."
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Partner highlight: Oregon Academy of Family Physicians
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 The Oregon Academy of Family Physicians is a statewide organization of family practice physicians and one of the newest partners of Project Access NOW.
According to Executive Director Kerry Gonzales, with its more than 1,400 members and 65 years of history the Academy focuses on three areas: advocacy, education, and public outreach.
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Community volunteer highlight: Kathi Misner
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 Project Access NOW created for Kathi Misner a way back into the healthcare field. The former occupational health nurse at Tuality Healthcare learned about the program from a fellow nurse. Soon after, she became one of Project Access NOW's first community volunteers. She even reunited with an old coworker.
"I knew of Lorraine [Williams] when she worked at Tuality," Kathi said. "Now I'm working with her at Project Access."
For the first year, Kathi spent her 2-3 weekly volunteer hours conducting patient surveys. With the 2009 Open House, she added event planning to her duties. The inaugural Bridges to Healthcare fundraiser and the 2010 Open House Barbeque at the new office were both major projects she also helped coordinate.
Continue reading >
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Staff profile: Annamieka Hopps
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 Annamieka Hopps is that uncommon nonprofit employee who used to be among the people she's now assisting. As a 19-year old University of Oregon student in 2005 she found herself diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and uninsured. The experience motivated her to pursue a career in healthcare access.
"I got first-hand experience navigating the healthcare system as an uninsured patient," Annamieka said.
She considers herself lucky, however: she had a mother advocating for her, and an education that helped her tackle the process of getting care.
"It's enough to be sick, let alone pay for it," Annamieka said.
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