2011 Clinic Update

Jimmy Hardin with volunteer RN Molly Smith.

This is an update on our services during 2011. Our volunteers see walk-in patients Thursday evenings from 6-8:30 and established patients on Monday evenings by appointment. 

What kind of care are we providing?
• In 2011 we provided 1450 visits, an increase of 16% from 2010. Last year, we grew by about the same amount.
• Our chronic disease registry includes those with diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, asthma, and depression. We added 165 new patients to the registry in 2011.
• We referred 42 patients for specialty care through Project Access NOW.
• With the generous support of Legacy Health Systems, we provided over 1,000 lab tests to our patients, saving them over $19,000.
• We provided over 1,755 prescriptions at no cost to our patients, helping prevent serious complications of untreated medical conditions. This was an increase of 17% compared to 2010. Our prescription program saved our patients over $138,000 in medication costs in 2011 alone.
• 76% of our hypertensive patients have reached blood pressure control targets. We are very proud of this, since on average only 50% of all patients in the US achieve blood pressure control; the average rates are even worse for African Americans.
• 88% of our diabetics have good or excellent blood sugar control with HbA1c (a standard measure of diabetes control) below 8. Many started care with HbA1c above 10.
• We’ve provided blood pressure checks and education for over 150 community members, many of them insured, during our daytime office hours and at community events.
• We’re encouraging healthier living by creating a garden space and offering fresh fruits and vegetables to our clinic patients.

Who are we seeing?
• All of our patients are uninsured. Almost all have household incomes below 150% of the federal poverty level.
• 53% of our patients are men and 47% are women.
• 48% of visits in 2011 were with African American patients and 30% were with Caucasian patients.
• 49% of the patients on our chronic disease registry are African American.

How do the patients feel about our service?
• Most of our new patients come to us because a friend or neighbor told them about the good care we provide.
• We receive thanks and blessings from grateful patients every week.

What does the future hold?
• The need for care continues to increase during these difficult economic times. 
• Our goal for 2012 is to serve 25% more people with high blood pressure and diabetes and be an even greater resource for improved health for the entire community we serve.
Thank you for your ongoing support. Together, we are building a stronger community!

Garlington Center Re-opening Celebration

Dr. Jill and Pastor Mary cut the ribbon celebrating the re-opening of the clinic!

The Garlington Center re-dedication ceremony on 9/11 was a great celebration, including community members, local faith leaders, elected officials, and staff from Cascadia and North by Northeast. The legacy of Reverend Dr. John Garlington was honored and a new chapter of community access to health care services celebrated. Reverend Hardy of Highland Christian Center recalled the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and reminded everyone to remember that 911 also means: “Hold on. Help is on the way”.

One Patient’s Story

Kevin Howard has high blood pressure and an enlarged heart.  He does well to manage these conditions and he openly attributes his success to the quality of the relationship he has established with the staff and volunteers at North by Northeast. He has experienced health care in a variety of environments from large hospital to his local community clinic.

When Kevin first walked into North by Northeast, he remembers how impressed he was by the personal attention each patient received and by how positive the attitude of the staff was. “It was almost like you were young and you had hurt yourself and you go to your grandma’s and she rubs you on the back. It feels like home coming in here. I don’t feel like I’m a number. The doctor spends more than five minutes with me. When I come in here, my doctor gives me a hug and asks how I’m doing and she really wants to know. She cares. It’s personal for me and that’s why I love this place.” He goes on further to talk about how this kind of experience has affected his health. “Having this personal relationship with this clinic, I make sure I take my medication on time. They’ll call me from time to time to ask me how I’m doing and to make sure that I’m on my medications. That kind of stuff really makes a difference. When someone personally puts some interest in you, your tendency is to want to do better. People will heal themselves if you give them that kind of personal care. Being taken care of by someone who truly has your best interest at heart is all anyone could ask for. That’s worth more than gold.”

Kevin admits that he still has some work to do. He’s been trying to quit smoking for years. He admits that the clinic is doing their part and their cheerleading encourages him. “ They want to make sure that I’m getting the support I need to be healthy. They’ll bend over backwards, stay up late at night or miss a meal to make sure that their patients are getting the care they need. It matters to me that my doctors have a good heart. They are not only quality physicians, they are quality people.”

“A Day On, Not a Day Off”

Kaiser's Mark Enger (rear) and Tricia Peters (front with red hair) present a check for $7000 to clinic staff

January 19th was Kaiser Permanente’s fifth annual day of service celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr, and over 400 Kaiser employees brought their skills and energy to a variety of local community agencies. At North by Northeast we were open all day and treated 25 patients, mostly for follow-up of diabetes and high blood pressure. Thanks to all these Kaiser and Northwest Permanente employees who joined us: Barbara Dirks, Louise Clark, Lori Siegal, Melody Faville, Karin Jacobson, Kelly Bennett, Jill Ginsberg, Leslie Nicodemus, Chip Rosenfeld, Diane Rosenheim, Ladeana Yarborough, Maxine Dexter, Margo McgeeHee-Kelly. Special thanks also to Grand Central Baking for donating pastries, News Seasons for sandwiches and Peet’s for coffee!! To top it off, Kaiser Permanente VP of Operations, Mark Enger, and VP of Human Resources, Tricia Peters, delivered a grant check for $7000 to support our work. Thank you all!

2008 Clinic Update

We’d like to update you on the care that we gave during 2008. We see patients on a walk-in basis on Thursday evenings from 6-8:30 and established patients by appointment two Monday evenings a month.

What kind of care are we providing?
• Since our opening, we’ve seen 932 new patients for a total of 1966 visits. 
• In 2008, we had 1026 visits, a 40% increase from 2007.
• 73% of the visits were for chronic health conditions.
• 21% of our visits are by appointment, allowing more continuity for patients with chronic health conditions and additional time for health education. 
• 25% of patients see our patient advocates for assistance with specialty care referrals, prescription assistance programs, social service resources, and other needs.
• In 2008 we wrote over 1200 prescriptions, mostly for chronic conditions.
• We successfully helped over 100 patients apply for coverage through the Oregon Health Plan, and 6 were randomly selected to receive coverage.
• We currently have 254 people on our chronic disease registry, which includes those with diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, asthma, and depression.
• The number of people with diabetes that we care for increased by 113% in 2008 and those with hypertension increased by 81%.
• 63% of our diabetic patients have gotten the pneumonia vaccination, which compares favorably to the Oregon state average of 52%.

Who are we seeing?
• 97% of patients seen in 2008 live in the North/inner Northeast neighborhood. (We usually can help patients from areas outside the neighborhood find care closer to where they live.)
• 95% of our patients have household incomes below 150% of the federal poverty level despite 50% being employed.
• Those patients established at our clinic have reduced their use of the emergency room by 25%.
• 51% of our patients are men and 49% are women.
• 45% are African American, 36% are Caucasian and 10% are multi-cultural or not giving information.

How do the patients feel about our service?
• Our patients, many living in poverty, donated more than $1,500 in 2008 to support the work of our clinic.
• We receive thanks and blessings from grateful patients many times each week.
• Those patients fortunate enough to obtain health insurance are often disappointed that they will no longer be able to see us at North by Northeast. 

Thanks to all of you who support our work. Together, we are building a stronger community.

Warm Heads, Warm Hearts

Patient Phyllis Forbes enjoys her new hat

For some of our volunteers and friends, Supporting a Healthy Neighborhood means making beautiful warm caps for our patients and their loved ones. These works of love are hanging on the wall in our hallway and patients can choose from a great variety of styles and colors.  Over 70 hats will now be keeping our neighborhood a bit warmer and brighter during these cold, dark winter days.  One patient, on her way out the door, said “I can’t believe I got my medicine and a cap too!”  Many thanks to all who leant their hands and creativity to this project.

Watch the Transformation at North by Northeast!

May 2008

June 2008

July 2008

August 2008

The front yard is AMAZING, thanks to all our garden angels! Master Gardener Elise Albert generously shared her vision and many hours of hard work.  Elise’s husband Jim Davis, North by Northeast’s own Louise Clark, and Aaron Clark-Ginsberg further transformed the front yard into a beautiful space and additional (much needed) waiting area. The plants have exploded, and the bees and butterflies are a constant presence. Finches regularly enjoy feasting at the bird feeder. Stop by and take a look – and be sure to say hello!

One Patient’s Story

USPS employee Randall Hoxie

When USPS employee Randall Hoxie walks up the steps with our mail, he is grinning from ear to ear. It wasn’t always that way. When Mr. Hoxie came through our door for the first time in August, he was scared and more than a little frustrated. He had lost his job and Kaiser health coverage not long before, and with it his prescriptions for high blood pressure medication. He knew his blood pressure was dangerously high and he was worried about his health. He also needed a job, had been looking hard, and had finally found one at the Post Office. But, like many employers, the USPS requires a physical before a new employee can start work. Mr. Hoxie’s blood pressure was running over 200, and he had flunked. With inexpensive and readily available medication, we were able to get his blood pressure down within a few weeks, and Mr. Hoxie soon got back to work. Now, along with our mail delivery we get a daily reminder that our work makes a real difference in people’s lives.

Clinic Update 2008!

A patient enjoys the new garden

What kind of care are we providing?
• Since our opening, we’ve seen almost 1000 new patients for a total of over 1800 visits.
• 70% of the visits were for chronic health problems.
• We’ve written almost 1500 prescriptions, mostly for chronic conditions.
• Our follow-up clinic allows more continuity for patients with chronic health conditions, and additional time for health education. 
• We are currently vaccinating our eligible patients against influenza. Volunteers help with outreach calls to inform patients of this free service.

Who are we seeing?
• 95% of our patients live in the inner North/Northeast neighborhood.
• Nearly all our patients have household incomes below 150% of the federal poverty level despite over 50% being employed.
• 50% of our patients are men and 50% are women.
• 43% are African American and 41% are Caucasian.

How do the patients feel about our service?
• Our patients, many living in poverty, have donated over one thousand dollars to support the work of our clinic.
• Our patients refer friends, family and neighbors to our clinic because they appreciate the care and service they have been given.

How does it feel to be a part of NxNE?
• We are proud to have earned a reputation in the community as a safe and welcoming place to receive care and health information.
• Many of our new patients have been looking for help for a long time and walk through our door expecting to find more obstacles to getting what they need.
• Seeing people leave with relief and a smile on their face makes it all worthwhile.