2011 Clinic Update
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.