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Dear Friends of Erie,
After years of planning, we're eagerly anticipating the upcoming launch of two new Erie sites that will increase access to care for thousands of patients in underserved Lake County communities. I'm excited to announce that Erie HealthReach Waukegan Health Center and Erie HealthReach Mundelein Health Center will begin operating this summer.
In this issue, you'll read about our new Lake County sites and partnerships. We'll also report on Erie navigators and other staff who worked tirelessly to enroll patients into Medicaid and private insurance through the Affordable Care Act before the March 31 deadline. Their efforts ensure access to care for those who need it most.
In addition, we're proud to introduce our newest class of residents through the Teaching Health Center program. This innovative program allows talented young doctors to train in community settings and increase access to care for underserved communities.
Finally, I want to personally invite you to attend Erie's Annual Luncheon on Thursday, May 29. Please join us to celebrate the role of community health centers and recognize those who are making a difference in the lives of our patients. I would be honored to see you there!
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Yours in Good Health,
Lee Francis, MD, MPH
President and CEO
Erie Family Health Center
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ERIE NEWS
Health Coverage Enrollment Success: 6,800 Patients and Still Counting
 Erie's Health Care Navigators enrolled over
6,800 previously uninsured patients. Thanks to unprecedented outreach by Erie's health care enrollment team, 6,800 previously uninsured Erie patients were successfully enrolled for health coverage by the March 31 deadline. For the first time, these patients are enjoying access to health benefits through either private or Medicaid insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act.
Congratulations to Erie's enrollment navigators and other team members who committed long hours to counseling patients on the phone and at "Obamacare Fair" enrollment events. They educated patients about plans and benefits, helped them sign up, and made sure they did not miss out on coverage.
Open enrollment for purchasing private insurance in the marketplace will begin again in the fall, and Erie will stand ready to assist patients with the application process. In the meantime, Erie will continue signing up eligible patients for Medicaid which remains open for ongoing enrollment.
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Erie Prepares for Major Expansion in Lake County
Erie HealthReach Waukegan Health Center will
open on July 1 in a new, 25,000-square foot,
state-of-the-art, LEED certified facility. This summer, Erie will begin operating its first two sites outside of Cook County. The Erie HealthReach partnership was born when HealthReach, a well respected free clinic, invited Erie to join in expanding care to thousands of underserved patients in Lake County who need culturally sensitive care.
Erie HealthReach Waukegan Health Center will open on July 1 in a new, 25,000-square foot, state-of-the-art, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified facility. Erie HealthReach Mundelein will open on July 21 at the current location of the HealthReach clinic in Mundelein. Both locations will provide compassionate, high quality primary care, family medicine, dental care, women's services, behavioral health services and case management. At full capacity, the two sites together will serve a total of 11,500 new patients-making this expansion the largest in Erie's history.
We have been busily introducing ourselves to local partners. We look forward to collaborating with the Lake County Health Department and other individuals and organizations and to serving as a key safety net health care resource for Lake County.
Erie is grateful to Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation, Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County and North Shore Gas for their early capital grants and to Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital for its generous operating grant commitment. The private grants supplement a capital grant from the US Health Resources and Services Administration.
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Erie's 2013 Annual Report: Now Online!
We're proud to announce publication of our FY2013 annual report, featuring Erie's partnerships, growth and expansion to meet the needs in new communities.
You'll also meet some of our remarkable patients. Thank you for helping make our story so successful and our impact so great.
For a hard copy, please contact Kate Birdwell at kbirdwell@eriefamilyhealth.org or 312-432-7440.
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Eriedescence Raises Spirits, Funds for HIV/AIDS Patients
On February 20, more than three hundred guests defied frigid weather, kicked off their winter boots and put on their party shoes to celebrate Eriedescence and support care for HIV/AIDS patients. The annual fun and fundraising event at Galleria Marchetti featured hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, a DJ and dancing.
The event raised $55,000 for Erie's Lending Hands for Life program. Proceeds support comprehensive, compassionate services for Chicagoans living with HIV/AIDS.
Many thanks to our host, Erie's Auxiliary Council, which furthers Erie's mission through advocacy, service and philanthropy.
Erie is deeply grateful to event sponsors, including Lead Sponsor, One Equity Partners; Emerald Sponsors, KaufmanHall, Walgreens and Brian and Michele Marsella; and Sapphire Sponsors, Agati Furniture, Agentech Realty, Legat Architects; Leal Associates, Novak Construction and Prime International Trading.
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You're Invited to Erie Family Health Center's 2014 Annual Luncheon:
Making Connections, Changing Lives
Thursday, May 29, 2014 / 11:30am to 1:30pm
The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
120 East Delaware Place
http://eriefamilyhealth.org/luncheon
Please join Erie, together with corporate and civic leaders and supporters, to celebrate the role of community health centers. We will recognize health care leaders and innovators who have made a difference in the lives of Erie patients and the community.
Keynote Speaker
Stephanie M. Whyte, MD, MBA
Chief Health Officer, Chicago Public Schools
Honoring:
Steven P. Geiermann, DDS
Senior Manager, Access, Community Oral Health Infrastructure and Capacity at American Dental Association
Golden Toothbrush Award
Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation
Health Program Champion Award
Bechara Choucair, MD, MS
Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health
Health Innovator Award
HealthReach
Distinguished Service Award
Lead Sponsor:
Patron Sponsors:
Allstate Insurance Company
Family Health Network
Leal Associates
Brian P. and Michele Marsella
NorthShore University HealthSystem
Northwestern Medicine
PNC Bank
Skender Construction
Strategic Sourcing Results
Swedish Covenant Hospital
To purchase a ticket or host a table, please contact Kate Birdwell at kbirdwell@eriefamilyhealth.org or at 312.432.7440.
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Erie Welcomes the New Teaching Health Center Residents
Erie Humboldt Park houses one of the nation's original 11 Teaching Health Center programs. Named the Northwestern McGaw Family Medicine Residency Program, this educational partnership brings together Erie, our academic partner Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, and Norwegian American Hospital. These talented and dedicated young doctors make a big difference in Erie's ability to provide care. Last year alone, Erie's Teaching Health Center residents provided care to 7,200 patients through 13,200 visits.
Erie's new class of Teaching Health Center residents arrives in late June! And, the program is already fulfilling its original promise of developing the primary care workforce of tomorrow. Of the eight residents who graduated last year, all stayed in primary care and five stayed at Erie. We are delighted to have this talented group of young doctors on our team!
Our eight newly recruited teaching health center residents join our current residents as nationally recognized scholars, as well as non-profit volunteers, advocates, authors and researchers. Their backgrounds are diverse but they share a passion and commitment to working with underserved patients in community-based settings.
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e-Spotlight is produced by Erie Family Health Center's Development and Communications Department. For any questions or to submit story ideas please contact Rachel Krause at rkrause@eriefamilyhealth.org.
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