Project Access Reaches 100 Physician Volunteers!
Volunteering for Project Access San Diego (PASD) has been beyond expectations, thanks to the generous participation of our physicians and other health professionals. As of March 2010, PASD has enlisted more than 100 individual physician specialists, in addition to large groups of anesthesiologists, radiologists, pathologists, physical therapists, and medical equipment providers, all willing to donate their services for uninsured adult patients. We also have some hospitals and surgical centers and are hoping for more!
What does this mean? We have helped control or cure the health problems of more than 400 patients. With the dedication and devotion of our expert staff, not one patient appointment has been missed, and every patient visits the specialist with a complete and up-to-date chart. Another special feature of Project Access San Diego is that the patient goes to the specialist’s office. The physician does not have to interrupt a busy practice to provide care for the medically underserved in a community clinic. Like the other Project Access programs around the country, we are keeping patients out of emergency rooms and are lowering both inpatient and outpatient visits. This not only helps patients and their families but, according to available data, saves significant money, staff time, and medical equipment for the overall healthcare system.
This is a great San Diego beginning for a program that has been successful in more than 50 other cities in the United States. But there is no room for complacency. We need more specialists, their expertise and their assistance in recruiting hospitals, and surgical centers and equipment necessary to carry out their treatment plans for our patients.
Our dedicated Foundation staff agrees that it is a privilege to provide Project Access San Diego for our grateful patients. Our physician volunteers energize us with their desire to participate, which continually reminds us that this is what physicians love to do: help patients. The support of medical office staff and many other health professionals who serve these patients reflects this generosity of spirit. Although we are providing invaluable healthcare for the working uninsured and other uninsured adults, the best aspect of Project Access is the joy of volunteering!
Please join us and experience it!
Interested in Volunteering?
If you are interested in volunteering or donating other healthcare services, please contact Lauren Radano, SDCMS Foundation Healthcare Access Manager, at (858) 565-7930 or at LRadano@SDCMS.org. You may also page Dr. Rosemarie Marshall Johnson at (619) 290-5351 or email her at RJohnson@SDCMS.org.