Altoona Regional Health System - Partnering for Health Services Medical Clinic

Overview

The Altoona Regional Partnership for a Healthy Community was begun in 1999 to address health issues in the Altoona community. The Partnership for a Healthy Community opened the Partnering for Health Services Medical Clinic in 1999 to provide access to free health care and medication to the working poor – those who can’t afford to buy private coverage but earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. The Medical Clinic has serviced more than 5,000 people in the Altoona area since its opening.

Impact

Today, the clinic operates under the voluntary direction of Dr. Zane Gates. The volunteer medical staff has expanded to nine on-site physicians and numerous physicians from multiple off-site private practices who volunteer their time. The physicians serve approximately 1,000 unique patients annually and provide more than 5,000 provider visits per year. This saves the health system time and resources by keeping patients out of the emergency department, while providing patients the most appropriate access to care in a primary care office setting.

Partnering for Health Services’ operational funding is dependent upon community donations and contributions, public and private grants, and free care provided by Altoona Regional Health System. In 2011, Dr. Gates was named one of ten recipients of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leaders Award for his determination to provide compassionate health care to those most in need and his work throughout the Altoona community. Fifty percent of the $105,000 award is being used to provide a Behavioral Health component to the Medical Clinic’s services, and fifty percent was designated to support the Gloria Gates Memorial Foundation after-school programs. The Partnership Board has been a financial supporter of the Gloria Gates after-school program since 1991.

Challenges/success factors

Initially, a challenge for the medical clinic was providing enough on-site care for an overwhelming number of patients. The hiring of a full-time mid-level provider corrected this deficiency. With the downturn in the economy, the need for the clinic has grown dramatically, and the clinic required more physical space. In January 2011, the clinic expanded to approximately 4,000 square feet.

The high cost of prescription medication may be a barrier to healthy living for many low-income, uninsured individuals. Partnering for Health utilizes indigent patient assistance programs, offered by pharmaceutical companies, to obtain free medication for patients. Partnering for Health has recently transitioned to using an electronic medical record for patient documentation. This allows physicians access to the records at all times, which supports continuity of care for patients. The organization is also more readily able to track patient health conditions and focus patient education and teaching in the area of most need. For example, based on data collected, Altoona recently hired a part-time dietitian to provide individual nutritional counseling to patients for health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease.

Partnering for Health offers a unique in-hospital indemnity insurance plan called Symetra. This plan was founded by Dr. Gates in his efforts to assist both Altoona Regional Health System and patients in accessing and receiving medical care. Symetra insurance is offered to all patients; however, those patients whose income exceeds the free care guidelines but who make less than 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and do not have access to medical insurance are typically those that purchase it. Currently, about 150 people are enrolled in the Symetra insurance plan.

Future direction/sustainability

Altoona Regional Health System provides 100 percent support by allowing the patients access to a full array of ancillary testing. The support of the entire hospital community is essential to the ongoing success and well-being of the patients at Partnering for Health Services.

Contact: Jerry Murray
President & Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: 814-889-2223
E-mail: jmurray@altoonaregional.org