Dedicated to transforming health care access in our state, Project Access Northwest helps to bridge the health care gap for low-income, underserved Washingtonians. Since 2006, this organization has served 50,000 patients, across King, Snohomish and Kitsap counties.
As a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming access to health care in Washington, Project Access Northwest recently achieved a major milestone of 50,000 patients served. People across King, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties live healthier and more productive lives thanks to Project Access Northwest’s Care Coordination, Premium Assistance and Health Home programs. As we see a rise in homelessness, Project Access Northwest recognizes the role poor health plays and strives to ensure that those with unmet health needs are not left vulnerable to homelessness or long-term health issues.
“Our longstanding relationships with community partners and generous donors have helped to broaden our care capacity and deepen our reach in the community,” said Gary Renville, executive director of Project Access Northwest. “We are honored to have served 50,000 patients to date and are committed to help ensure that every person in our community has the opportunity to be healthy.”
For more than a decade, Project Access Northwest has maintained a commitment to improve the well-being of communities where its patients and employees live and work. The team applies its expertise in health care services to create a pathway for care providers to deliver life-changing care and patients to easily navigate the complexities of the health care system. The organization's innovative approach and entrepreneurial spirit help save the health care system millions and provide for the most vulnerable in the community at no cost to the patient.
In 2018 alone, Project Access Northwest’s extensive network of health care partners and over 1,700 volunteer providers served 6,000 patients. The breadth of this work included coordinating over 6,000 appointments and health home visits, while securing insurance for dozens of vulnerable patients.
“Without Project Access Northwest I would not have been able to receive a hip replacement, which addressed the constant pain I felt for years,” said Jean MacKinnon, orthopedics patient. “Not only did they connect me with an orthopedic surgeon while I was uninsured and unable to afford care, but they restored my quality of life. Something I never thought would be possible again.”
In the future, Project Access Northwest plans to expand its programs to include an inpatient discharge pilot program to reduce the rate of return visits that take place in the Emergency Department—a much more expensive alternative—and to reduce the readmission rate for the same issue. The organization is also looking into a primary care pilot program dedicated to connecting inappropriate users of the Emergency Department to primary care homes for better long-term health outcomes.
Those who would like to support Project Access Northwest are invited to donate online, join the medical provider network or attend STRIKE Down Barriers, the organization’s annual fundraiser. The event takes place on October 15th, 2019 at Garage Billiards and Bowl. Tickets are available for purchase online.