 Project Access is
a story about bringing a community to life - one person, one group
at a time to provide care for our neighbors. Project Access is
a physician led community partnership to provide the full range of
medical care to the low income uninsured, those who do not qualify
for any insurance. In our community 75% of low-income uninsured are
working poor.
Project Access consists
of doctors, nurses, hospitals, pharmacists, government, businesses,
labor, churches and patients all working toward a healthier
community, toward increased productivity and decreased absenteeism,
and toward efficient access to primary and specialty care and
pharmaceuticals.
The success of Project Access pivots on
the generosity of physicians and other healthcare providers and
partners in our area donating their services to help address the
issue of the uninsured. However, we need the community's help
too. Our goal is for Project Access to be truly "community
owned".
The
major challenge we face is funding for pharmaceuticals so patients
do not return sick repeatedly because they are unable to fill their
prescriptions. In order to accomplish this goal,
funding is required for administration and at-cost pharmaceuticals.
In our
first year of service we have received
$100,000 for at-cost pharmaceuticals from the City of Spokane.
We have also gone to most of the other cities within Spokane County
to ask for a contribution ($1.25/ per population) to fund
pharmaceuticals. Spokane County has helped with money from a
Community Block Grant. We have received endorsement and
funding this year from the cities of Liberty Lake, Medical Lake,
Airway Heights and Spokane Valley. We have also received
endorsement and a promise to be included in the 2004 budget process
from the cities of Cheney, Deer Park, and Millwood. Other Project
Access communities return $10 of charity medical care for every
dollar of pharmaceuticals.
Project Access works because of the
dignity, hope, determination and local passion. With your
continued support we can document through stories and data how we
have made our community healthier and more productive. Please support us as we work with all
government leaders throughout the cities and county of Spokane to
fully fund this complement to the charity of doctors, hospitals and
pharmacists.
All donations in any amount would be
greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. You can rest
assured that your money will be put to good use right here in
Spokane. |
