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.