For general surgeon, Dr. Catharina Hoeksema, volunteering with Project Access NOW is an easy and enjoyable experience. Among the first group of providers to sign up as a volunteer, Dr. Hoeksema has been donating care for over four years through her practice at Hillsboro Advanced Surgical Care. She appreciates the flexibility that Project Access NOW provides for her to determine how many referrals she is able to take in any give period of time, adjusting upward or downward, based on her current situation.

For uninsured patients, often surgeries will be delayed as they are required to "jump through several hoops" before approval is granted to proceed with the surgery. With Project Access NOW, all the paperwork is taken care of. "We've never had to provide any additional information, never had any hassle about the patient being uninsured," she says. Dr. Hoeksema and her office staff appreciate the overall ease of the program. "Patients are very reliable; they show up on time and we have easy access to interpreters if we need them. " Medications are also available through Pharmacy Bridge.

"It has been a very positive experience for me and I certainly look forward to being able to continue to work with Project Access NOW in the future."