Volunteers provided vital health services to patients in need

The Seattle-King County Clinic is a critical resource for the community, and this year was no different.

From February 13–16, thousands of community members were able to get medical, dental and vision care free of charge at the Seattle Center, thanks to thousands of volunteers.

Project Access Northwest was proud to participate again in the vision area, helping people get follow-up care for issues like cataracts and glaucoma.

This year, more than 3,300 people who have no other resources to obtain care were able to access services.

Though a more comprehensive report on the clinic will be published in the spring, it's clear that many patients were well cared for and that the Clinic met its other goals:

  • Generating greater awareness about the realities of our health care system
  • Deepening our connection to underserved communities
  • Prompting further discussion and collaboration around solutions to the health care crisis
  • Connecting patients to resources in the community that can provide continued care
  • Inspiring volunteerism

Project Access Northwest staff members and volunteers worked more than 12 hours per day for four days to ensure care to this vulnerable population. We arranged for 93 patients to obtain additional follow-up care that would not otherwise be available.

“The SKCC project is particularly meaningful to me as so many patients attending simply have not had access to services to address their health (ophthalmology) needs, especially in such an efficient and non-judgmental setting,” says Molly James, Specialty Care Coordination Manager at Project Access Northwest. “SKCC provides a phenomenally organized, accepting program that meets the needs of the community in a unique way.”

Project Access Northwest looks forward to again partnering with the clinic in 2021 and remains deeply appreciative to be part of something so meaningful in the community.