The county wanted to expand its capacity to deliver care to this population. And local hospitals wanted to contain the expense of uncompensated care by reducing emergency room visits for non-emergency cases and by reducing avoidable hospitalizations. The Medical Society also reached out to local pharmacists. A private grant used to develop a centralized enrollment and referral system allows staff at the health center to spend more time caring for patients instead of on the phone attempting to locate specialty care for them. These and other efficiencies resulting from Project Access allow health center staff to treat 3,000 more indigent clients each year.
Patients are healthier.
Over 80 percent of patients surveyed say their health is either better or much better than it was before they enrolled in Project Access. Private physicians share the cost of treating the uninsured and underserved more evenly. Now, they volunteer without fear of being overwhelmed with referral calls from other uninsured patients. And they get great press in local media for their work. Conclusion These projects in Florida and North Carolina are just two of many creative community efforts across the nation that are expanding health services to our uninsured neighbors.