Donors
Donors Make Electronic Health Records Possible
Teresa is an insulin using diabetic, requiring consistent, frequent medical care to keep her condition from turning much more serious, even life threatening. But that care was out of reach for Teresa: the 52 year-old has no income or insurance and is supported by her family. So, like thousands of others in her position, Teresa has gone from doctor to doctor. She even suffered eye-damage and other complications because of lack of consistent care and lack of understanding about her medication regimen. Sometimes a new provider ordered tests to be repeated because the previous results could not be located and Teresa lacked the ability to relay complicated test results, insulin doses, and other health information from one provider to another. The result: care that was uncoordinated, inefficient, and bad for Teresa’s health.
Teresa took a big step toward a healthier life when she found the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center (Virginia Garcia). Now she has a “healthcare home,” with access to consistent primary care. That care will soon be even better. Thanks to a gift from Kaiser Permanente and other community partners, Virginia Garcia will be using Electronic Health Records (EHR) in their Hillsboro Clinic starting April 27. This means that Teresa’s health records will always be available to her providers- be it a diabetes specialist, doctor, dentist, or mental health counselor. EHR can be a lifesaving tool in an emergency, when vital health information—and access to records--is needed to make quick medical decisions.
Implementing EHR, however, is not a simple undertaking. It requires an investment of time, money, and resources.
Virginia Garcia hopes to one day install EHR at all its facilities, with a projected cost of nearly $2 million. EHR at Virginia Garcia’s Hillsboro clinic will come thanks to a cash gift from Kaiser Permanente of $250,000. Kaiser Permanente has also invested in addition, nearly $92,000 in training and support to effectively and efficiently implement EHR at this site. Their charitable support, combined with partnerships with the Spirit Mountain Community Fund and the Peierls Foundation, will make EHR possible and transform the lives of some of the most vulnerable populations in the region. The generosity of these prominent organizations will help Virginia Garcia to provide even higher quality healthcare to their patients while helping to close the gap in health care for minorities, the elderly, and for low-income populations.
Donor Appreciation
From all of us at the Foundation, we thank you for your investment in helping our patients. Together we make a positive difference in the lives of our friends and neighbors who need us.
