Primary Care Issue Update:
VAN Supporting Three Efforts to Improve Primary Health Care
June 2003

The Vision Action Network is currently supporting three efforts to improve primary health care:

• Assist people in gaining access to publicly funded health care for which they may be eligible, but not enrolled.
• Support collaborations to expand primary health clinic services for the uninsured or underinsured
• Assist efforts to staff and supply the Essential Health Clinic, a free health clinic in Hillsboro.

Current Efforts to Improve Enrollment

Over the past twelve months, the County Department of Health and Human Services has offered benefits training seminars attended by over 300 participants from 47 community based agencies, advocacy groups, and faith organizations.

Nearly 100 participants spent a day learning how to assist clients to complete and submit Oregon Health Plan applications. Others learned about medical, employment, and support benefits available to adults with disabilities, while local small business owners learned how to assist their employees to access the Family Health Insurance Assistance Program.

Multnomah County employs 22 fulltime OHP application assistance staff, and Clackamas County employs 8. But Washington County boasts a volunteer army of committed community members working to help those at risk access needed support services.

Current Efforts to Expand Primary Health Care Services

Efforts to increase primary health care capacity in Washington County continue to grow.

Efforts to increase primary health care capacity in Washington County continue to grow. Virginia Garcia, a Federally Qualified Health Center, providing a full range of primary health care services to farm workers and low-income Latino residents, opened a second clinic in Hillsboro in February 2002. Washington County was a key partner in this expansion with its donation of a building to house the new clinic. Recently, the city of Beaverton convened a broad cross section of local health partners to explore the development of a new primary care clinic in Beaverton.

For a complete report of the current state of primary health care for the uninsured and underinsured in Washington County, click here for the Vision West Primary Care Issue Paper (292KB, PDF).

Essential Health Clinic

The Essential Health Clinic serves uninsured individuals and families who need treatments for urgent medical problems. The clinic accepts walk-in patients once a week and provides medical services free of charge to appropriate clients. The clinic's main focus is to identify and treat medical problems such as asthma, respiratory infections, urinary tract infection and minor injuries before they become more serious ailments or chronic illnesses. Treating children is also a priority.

The cooperation of a variety of community agencies made this clinic possible. The clinic is open Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. at the Washington County Hillsboro Clinic, located at 155 N. First Avenue in Hillsboro.

There are many ways to assist the hard-working volunteer organizers. Choose to assist in one of the following ways:

• Volunteer your time Medical personnel and bilingual volunteers are always needed. Childcare volunteers are also needed.
• Provide a snack or dinner for volunteers working on Thursday evening.
• Donate toys for children to use in the waiting room (coloring books, crayons, etc.)
• Make a tax-deductible cash donation to the clinic. Cash contributions will be used to provide patients with much-needed medications and other necessary treatments.

Please contact the Essential Health Clinic Coordinator at 503/846-4919 to offer a donation or request further information.

Primary Care Issue Update (17KB, RTF)