Dr. Suzanne Landis from Buncombe County Project Access, part of American Project Access Network, will be in Cedar Rapids May 13th & 14th to visit with the medical community including physicians, managers and mid-level providers to talk about how Project Access can work in our community.

For details, click here:  Project Access invite 5-13 and Project Access invite 5-14.

NEWS RELEASE

April 23, 2008

For Release:  Immediate                                             Contact: Karen Vander Sanden 319-398-6083 or 319-558-8424  -or- Sarah Corizzo 319-369-8372 or 319-560-2385

   

Local leaders gather to help build consensus for access for health care

CEDAR RAPIDS – On Wed., April 30, a panel of local health-care leaders advocating for the uninsured in our community will gather for a Gazette-sponsored panel discussion at the Kirkwood Training and Outreach Center in Marion at 7 p.m. (Further details below.)  Panelists will discuss what values should drive health-care reform, as well as what each of us can do to build consensus for achieving change and provide access to health-care to everyone. The forum will include a question and answer period. 

 

The panel discussion is one of many events being organized around the country during Cover the Uninsured Week, April 27-May 3, 2008.  The week is designed to draw attention to the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to ask our nation's leaders to seek out solutions.

The problem of the uninsured is continuing to grow. The federal government estimates that 47 million individuals lacked health insurance coverage of any kind during 2006. Other research shows that tens of millions more Americans go without health coverage for shorter periods of time.  In Iowa, 253,546 people, or 8.7 percent of the state’s population, do not have health insurance.

In the Cedar Rapids community, both Mercy Medical Center and St. Luke’s Hospital provide needed health-care, regardless of ability to pay.  Both are committed to providing health-care for any member of our community, particularly those people who are not covered adequately by health insurance or federal programs.

In addition, the hospitals have joined with the following community partners:  Healthy Linn Care Network, Linn County Public Health, Linn County, Community Health Free Clinic, His Hands Free Medical Clinic and Linn Community Care, to work together to address access to health care in our community.  These partners are dedicated to the concept that all people, regardless of their ability to pay, should have access to health-care services, and that all people be treated with dignity and respect.

Event Details

What:    Gazette-sponsored panel discussion on access to health care

When:   Wed., April 30, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Where:  Kirkwood Training and Outreach Center, 3375 Armar Drive, Marion

Who:     The public is invited to attend. (The forum will include a question and answer period.)

Why:     To address the need for access to health-care in our community

                                                           

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Cover the Uninsured week is April 28th-May 2nd. 
For more information about this nationwide event, visit Cover the Uninsured. 

Locally we will be having a panel discussion on Wednesday, April 30th at 7pm, at Kirkwood Training & Outreach Services, 3375 Armar Dr (across from Carlos O'Kelly's restaurant).  You are invited to come hear what we are doing in Linn County to help meet the medical needs of uninsured and underinsured residents.  Be part of the discussion too!  It takes everyone in the community working together for change.

What can one person do?

1. Use your voice and be heard.  Write to your legislators or give them a quick call to let them know what is important to you.
2. Learn about Project Access from this website and other sites where it is working in similar communities.
3. Share information about Project Access with your doctor, family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors.  Encourage them to use our website for more information.
4. Offer a ride to a neighbor or friend who needs to go to a doctor appointment.
5. Learn about screenings you need and at what age.  Share this information with people you meet every day.  For more information click here: Health tips.
   

A Story of Project Access:

Our focus is to provide low-income, uninsured residents of Linn County a medical home and access to specialty care.  We will create a network of primary and specialty care physicians who, along with local hospitals and clinics, will donate care upfront, offering equitable distribution of donated care.  Charity care is already being done in our community; once donated in advance residents will have access to preventative care, enabling them to manage chronic conditions that will in turn help them live healthier, more productive lives.  In other communities of similar capacity to Linn County, research has shown that a high percentage of residents 1)begin following a treatment plan and 2)find jobs or get better jobs, with insurance so that they can continue to live well.  Through tracking donated care in dollar amounts, we will show the huge benefit to the community and honor those who have volunteered their time.  Over time our community can save money because it costs far less to manage chronic disease than to treat the urgent results of poorly-managed chronic conditions.  Our initiative is massive and inspiring, and with the committed collaboration of community partners, we will reach our potential.

How can you help?

**Share the story about Project Access and how it can benefit our community by helping residents have access to health care and by saving money in our community.

**View this website find out more information and learn how Project Access works in other communities.

**Talk to your doctor about Project Access at your next appointment.  Even a few minutes of your time will help our community understand the mission of Linn County Project Access.

For information about the upcoming Leadership Training, click here CDSMP Leadership Training.  Use this flyer to share with people about this beneficial program - and see for yourself how a networking opportunity for people living with a chronic condition has helped them live healthier, happier lives.

Click here March meeting minutes to access the PAAC minutes from 3-10-08.

Click here February 15 meeting minutes to access the PAAC meeting minutes.

An advocate, by definition, is an individual or group who acts, speaks or writes in support of a person or issue.  At one time or another, each one of us has been an advocate.  Maybe it was as a teenager trying to convince our parents that we could make our own rules or maybe as a friend trying to convince the group to let us pick the evening activity.  The decision to advocate for the best interests of ourselves or family is usually easy and most often leads to immediate results.
However, when there is a bigger issues that affects an entire community, a group of organizations and/or individuals may form a coalition designed to advocate either for or against it.  Since there is always strength in numbers, when a group is formed for the specific purpose of advocating for a cause it is important to recognize and address any shifts in momentum that may occur.  Advocacy not only allows people to better understand an issue and clarify their own personal values and beliefs, it also allows them to see that they can be a part of making change.  There are many individuals that want to see immediate results from their actions, usually much more than what is reasonable.  Working with committed members to build and solidify capacity helps ensure that the group is ready and able to act when the time is right and is essential in creating and sustaining momentum.  If meetings are held regularly, they are better able to coordinate strategies in order to recognize and utilize each other's strengths when necessary.  If dedicated to the cause, members who are kept well-informed regarding the mission, vision and strategies of the coalition in addition to being provided consistent, on-going communication about items that may effect their progress will be able to sustain their hopes and beliefs for change.

By Heather Armstrong
01/31/08

On Thursday, March 13th from 8:30am to 12:00pm you are invited to participate in an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the realities of living in poverty. 

There are many Iowans who are facing this struggle everyday.  Attend this simulation, hosted by Horizons (located at: 819-5th Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA) to understand more about the realities of poverty by walking in the shoes of a typical low-income family trying to survive from month to month.

Click here for the downloadable brochure and registration:

Poverty Simulation Brochure / Registration Form

The cost is $20 which is due by March 7, 2008.

For questions regarding this event, please contact the Linn County Extension Office at (319) 377-8939.