Improving Health, Changing Lives

One in four adults in San Diego County are at highest risk for poor health because they do not have health insurance. The vast majority are employed, but do not have access to insurance through their employment. Others are family members working hard to raise their children, and the cost of insurance is too great a burden on their family budget. Increasing numbers of small employers are dropping their insurance coverage or raising the employee share of premium due to the rapidly rising premiums.

Those at the lowest income levels and the disabled usually qualify for government subsidized healthcare, including MediCal or County medical plans. However the working poor, those families with a household income from $20,000 to $60,000, are the most often uninsured. And that is where the services of the San Diego County Medical Society Foundation are most needed.

Access to Specialty Health Care Services

Project Access San Diego provides specialty care physician consultations, diagnostic testing, medical procedures and surgeries through a network of volunteer providers.

SDCMSF partners with specialty care physicians, hospitals and surgery centers, and other ancillary health providers who contribute their time, expertise and resources to serve the healthcare needs of those receiving primary care at local community healthcare centers. Over 1,300 patients have received specialty healthcare services by more than 610 volunteer physicians since the initiation of Project Access San Diego, our flagship program, in late 2008. And this care has changed their lives.

Achieving better health:
Patients reported their health condition as improving from Fair to Good six months after receiving care.

Getting back to work:
Improved health conditions enabled patients to return to work, and supporting their families.

Reducing community health center visits:
Patients reported that after their enrollment in Project Access, they experienced a 63% reduction in clinic usage.

Reducing Emergency Room usage and hospital stays:
Patients reported a 76% reduction in ER usage in the six months since receiving specialty care, and a 90% reduction in hospital night stays.

Through the generosity of hospitals and surgical centers, we are able to provide critical medical procedures and surgeries throughout the year, and partnering with Kaiser Permanente and Surgery One, have regularly scheduled surgery days several times a year.

Health Education & Prevention are the Keys to Wellness

70% of an individual’s health is determined by their behaviors; healthy behaviors translate into healthier people. SDCMS works with primary care providers and specialty care physicians to enhance the health of community residents through a number of initiatives:

  • Text4Baby seeks healthier babies and mothers through mobile messaging to expectant and new parents on time-sensitive health issues including nutrition, exercise, stress, and illness prevention strategies.
  • We are working to improve the adult immunization rates, currently less than 10% of target, through education and access to care.
  • Appropriate colorectal cancer screening and diagnostics can save lives; we assist to ensure low-income adults participate in their early detection and provide access to care should treatment be needed.

Text4baby

Text4baby San Diego is part of a national program initiated by the National Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies coalition to improve the health outcomes of babies and mothers. This free text messaging service delivers key health tips and reminders three times a week; messages are geared specifically to the pregnancy trimester or age of the infant. To receive free Text4baby messages, simply text BABY (for English-language messages) or BEBE (for Spanish-language messages) to 511411. Download a flyer with more information in English or Spanish.

Colorectal Cancer Screening & Diagnosis

SDCMSF and Kaiser Permanente are working together to diagnose, treat and cure colorectal cancer better, earlier, and with better results. The US Preventive Services Task Force, American Gastroenterological Association, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy now recommend the use of the non-invasive Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) annually for colorectal cancer screening of adults over age 50, rather than a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy at five year intervals. The FIT test, when properly administered, is proven to be more effective at picking up early cancers, leading to improved outcomes. Kaiser Permanente, as part of the Super Saturday Surgery Days they host twice each year, provides diagnostic sigmoidoscopies and colonoscopies for patients presenting with a positive FIT test or occult blood.

Working with the community clinics, SDCMSF is assisting to increase the use of FIT tests as a primary screening tool. If you are interested in having your clinic or practice participate in this program, please contact Barbara Mandel, Executive Director.