Alliance patient speaks on National Health Care Reform

AMM Medical Director, Dr. Tara Lewis, with her patient, Gail Johnson

Health care reform is a major priority in Washington and North Carolina.  There are estimated to be over 2 Million people in the state and 120,000 in Wake County without health insurance.  Alliance patient Gail Johnson spoke at a Health Care Forum on July 22, 2009 in Raleigh and told her story about the financial, physical and emotional cost of being uninsured.  Though working for the same company for the past five years, she does not have employer-sponsored medical benefits.  In the past Gail was not able to afford routine diabetes medication and testing supplies that cost 30% of her total monthly income, nor did she have a primary care provider directing her care.  During that time period, her health deteriorated to where her condition forced her to WakeMed’s Emergency Room.

Since establishing a health care home at Alliance, Dr. Lewis is Gail’s personal physician and she qualifies for reduced fee medications with the help of Nicole Emswiler, PharmD.  Overall, her health and outlook on life has dramatically improved.  She says “ I’ll never be able to pay off the hospital bill from my ER visit, but at Alliance I’m able to receive consistent and quality care that I can afford.  More people need the kind of care I receive” Her comment brought cheers to the crowd.

Alliance hosts first ever Mobile Mammography screening

Saturday July 11th, Alliance hosted it’s first Mobile Mammography event, sponsored by Rex Breast Cancer Center.  Sixteen uninsured women of Wake County were screened and received information on breast cancer health, all free of charge.  This event was organized by Alliance Outreach Director Regina Heroux, RN, MS, OCN,along with the team at Rex Cancer Center.

Alliance’s next community event is August 15th at Chavis Park and co-sponsored by Wake County Human Services.  AMM will provide blood pressure checks and provide information on clinic services.  For more information, contact Regina Heroux at (919)250-3320 x 422

Alliance Meditation Garden nears completion…..

Alliance’s planned Meditation Garden is set for completion by early August, bringing the last project of The Hope & Healing Campaign to an end.  Made possible with a grant from The Fenwick Foundation, Stuart and Tricia Phoenix and with generous support of Liggett Design Group, Bland Landscaping and Lawrence Construction, the garden will be a quiet place of meditation and prayer for staff, patients and community.  A ceremony to dedicate the garden is tentatively set for mid-September.  View photos of work underway and stay tuned for updates!

Alliance leader takes part in Ethridge Healthcare Forum at NC State

The Computer Science Department at NC State University welcomed US Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington, pictured with Dr. Annie Antón), the only North Carolina member on the House Ways and Means Committee, to campus for a Healthcare Information Technology (IT) Business Forum on June 1, 2009.  The Forum included presentations from members of the medical community and others involved in research and development of solutions to healthcare IT issues.

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