July/August 2014 Issue

Erie HealthReach Waukegan Now Serving Patients in Lake County

Annual Luncheon: Most Successful in Erie History

Susan G. Komen Grant Ensures Continuity of Care for Breast Cancer Patients

"My Erie Inspiration" Highlights Providers' Compassionate Care

Support Erie's Mission

SOCIAL NETWORKING

Dear Friends of Erie,

Lee Francis This has been a season for celebration! After hosting the most successful Annual Luncheon in Erie's history on May 29th, in July we celebrated another Erie milestone - the opening of Erie HealthReach Waukegan Health Center, our first location outside of Cook County.

This month, e-Spotlight takes you inside the

ribbon-cutting ceremony and the community event that marked the debut of the new health center. I hope you will also enjoy reading about highlights from the Annual Luncheon, which brought together 400 Erie supporters and partners and honored innovators in the health care community. It also featured Erie providers speaking passionately about the inspiration they receive in caring for their patients.

Finally, we're excited to report on a grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation to help Erie provide underserved women with access to education, screening, detection and care they need for breast cancer. Many women's lives will be changed as a result of this support.

On behalf of everyone at Erie, many thanks to HealthReach, the Lake County community, guests, honorees and sponsors of the Annual Luncheon and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

We hope you continue enjoying a healthy summer!

Yours in Good Health,

Lee Francis, MD, MPH

President and CEO
Erie Family Health Center

ERIE NEWS

Erie HealthReach Waukegan Now Serving Patients in Lake County

Erie leadership, elected officials, partners,

and funding supporters cut the ribbon.

On July 17, more than a hundred guests gathered for a festive ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the official opening of Erie HealthReach Waukegan Health Center. "As we have gotten to know the Lake County community, it is clear that this is a community with so many assets. We look forward to becoming one of them," stated Lee Francis, President and CEO of Erie Family Health Center.

On July 19, an open house celebration for community residents was held at the new center. Close to two hundred attendees enjoyed free food, music, dancing, games and prizes. Guests toured the center, spoke to navigators about getting health care coverage and made medical and dental appointments.

Erie HealthReach Waukegan Health Center is located at 2323 W. Grand Avenue in Waukegan. It offers coordinated primary medical and dental care, pediatric and women's health services and will grow to include case management, health education and behavioral health services. At full capacity, Erie HealthReach will serve more than 10,000 patients each year.

Erie thanks all whose trust and support helped make the new health center possible. We gratefully acknowledge all of our donors, particularly major funders Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation, Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County and North Shore Gas, for their generous support. We are also grateful to HealthReach and the Lake County Health Department for their trust, partnership and support. And thank you to all of the elected officials, community partners and other agencies and individuals who have given us such a warm welcome.

Annual Luncheon: Most Successful in Erie History

On Thursday, May 29, four hundred corporate, philanthropic and community partners gathered at the Four Seasons Chicago for Erie's 2014 Annual Luncheon, Making Connections, Changing Lives. The event raised over $165,000 to support Erie's mission - making it the most successful Annual Luncheon in Erie history.

Chief Health Officer for Chicago Public Schools Dr. Stephanie A. Whyte delivered a keynote address emphasizing the critical need for children's health care. Honorees, pictured above, included: Commissioner of Chicago Department of Public Health Dr. Bechara Choucair, Health Innovator Award; HealthReach, Distinguished Service Award (accepted by Executive Director Nancy Bock); Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation, Health Program Champion Award (accepted by President Heather Higgins Alderman); and Steven P. Geiermann, DDS, Golden Toothbrush Award. An event highlight was "My Erie Inspiration," featuring Erie health care providers who shared patient stories.

Erie would like to thank all participants who contributed to the event's success. Special recognition goes out to our generous sponsors: Lead Sponsor, UnitedHealthcare; Benefactor Sponsor, Skender Construction; Patron Sponsors, Allstate, Family Health Network, Leal Associates, Brian P. and Michele Marsella, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Northwestern Medicine, PNC Bank, Strategic Sourcing Results and Swedish Covenant Hospital.

Susan G. Komen� Grant Ensures Continuity of Care for Breast Cancer Patients

Silvia received Erie's comprehensive cancer services with

full support from Monica, Erie's cancer coordinator,

and Silvia's family.

Over one thousand low-income, uninsured Hispanic women now have access to Erie's Breast Cancer Continuum of Care, thanks to a generous grant from Susan G. Komen� Chicagoland. These women often have difficulty accessing preventive measures such as mammograms and clinical breast exams.

The grant helps Erie educate women, overcome barriers and provide access to diagnosis and treatment. Five hundred women will receive clinical breast exams and seven hundred will be referred for mammograms and treatment at Northwestern Memorial Hospital or Norwegian American Hospital.

Erie breast cancer patients like Lydia - a two-time breast cancer survivor whose story was first featured at Erie's Annual Luncheon - now receive this care and continuing care through support groups at Erie West Town and Erie Humboldt Park locations.

"My Erie Inspiration" Highlights Providers' Compassionate Care

Four Erie providers shared personal stories at the Annual Luncheon, reflecting the value of Erie connections with patients. Following are excerpts from those stories...

Monica Ortiz, Women's Cancer Care Coordinator

"Lydia is a two-time breast cancer survivor. During her journey with cancer, she battled with the illness of her husband which left him unable to work or provide for his family..." (more)

Lisa Kearney, DDS, Clinical Director of Oral Health

"Rosa brought her three-year-old daughter Kaylee to Erie after she noticed some brown spots on Kaylee's teeth and wanted to know what they were. Unfortunately they were cavities and she had a lot of them..." (more)

Sandra Small, Behavioral Health Therapist

"Brittany was known as a troublemaker-in fights-often suspended from school. She was the kind of student no one wanted to see coming. Brittany started to seek sexually transmitted infection testing services in the clinic..." (more)

Watch our providers tell their stories here!

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.