Mission

Access Partnership's mission is to facilitate the connection between those with health care needs and available resources

What We Do

ABOUT US
Access Partnership, formally established in 2004, is a nonprofit community collaboration of diverse stakeholders who share a common goal of improving access to health care to people in need in Hampton Roads and surrounding areas. Our objective is to mobilize efforts and eliminate major gaps in health access for economically disadvantaged individuals by strengthening the safety net systems of care, expanding existing programs and creating new programs for identified gaps in care.

CURRENT PROGRAMS
The Donated Medical Supplies & Equipment program accepts new and gently used items which are gifted to organizations and individuals in need. Collaboration with F.R.E.E., CATS, Virginia Reuse Network and EVMS REMEDY Club improves access to needed items. The value of donated items distributed in 2019 was over $465,000. Supplies and equipment that is unable to be utilized in our communities is offered to mission groups for humanitarian efforts abroad, keeping tons of would-be waste out of our landfills.

The Dental Access Help Line assists callers in need of dental care by connecting to the dental safety net, outreaches, and dental programs. More than 1,500 calls were received in 2019. Each caller is assessed by our Oral Health Coordinator to determine the most appropriate program or provider to connect for care.

Donated Dental Services (DDS) program connects eligible applicants to volunteer dentists in Hampton Roads and Virginia's Eastern Shore. Eligibility is limited to adults over 65 years, disabled persons, or individuals with health conditions requiring dental care to improve their health status (i.e. chemo/radiation treatment, joint replacement, organ transplants, heart surgery). DDS is a nationwide program of Dental Lifeline Network(r) and Access Partnership is the first community organization to manage this program at the local level. In 2018, volunteer dentists and dental labs provided over $307K in free dental care and over $170K in 2019.

Dental Outreaches, such as Oral Health Screenings, Dental Access Days and Missions of Mercy are held throughout Hampton Roads in collaboration with Dental Associations, private dentists, clinics and other organizations. Access Partnership provides promotion, recruitment of volunteers and patients, resource connection and functions as fiscal agent and fundraiser. Mission of Mercy held in Portsmouth in 2018 provided free dental services valued at $428,000 to nearly 500 adults. Remote Area Medical (RAM) is postponed until September this year due to COVID19.

Access Partnership is collaborating with Eastern Virginia Medical School students to connect unused medical supplies locally and globally.

We recently signed a MOU with Healthy Chesapeake to connect residents to health resources (care connection services).

Oral Health 757 newsletters are released quarterly to communicate oral health news and resources to the dental and medical professionals and others interested in improving access to oral health.

Noteworthy News electronic emails are released weekly to share news, events and resources related to health access. Over 1200 subscribers are on our listserv.

PREVIOUS PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES

The Pharmacy Care of Hampton Roads (PCHR), a central-fill pharmacy developed by Access Partnership in partnership with the Peninsula Institute for Community Health (PICH), provided 30 to 90-day supplies of select generic medications to financially qualified patients of local community health centers and free clinics. (2004-2008)

The Community Access to Care program provided access to diagnostic and specialty care at free or reduced rates to financially eligible patients of partnering community health centers or free clinics. Access Partnership in collaboration with Optima Health and The Peninsula Institute for Community Health (PICH) enrolled 1000 eligible patients per year and recruited 289 specialty providers to participate. (2005-2015)

The Oral Health Improvement Coalition of South Hampton Roads (OHICSHR) was established in 2004 by individuals representing 27 organizations. Access Partnership provided administrative services and served as fiscal agent for the coalition from 2005-2016.

Access Partnership served as community organizer and fiscal agent for the development of a Federally Qualified Community Health Center (FQHC) in Virginia Beach, which opened in 2007 and continues to serve today.

AWARDS Access Partnership is an 8-year recipient of GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Awards, the only people's choice award where volunteers, donors and people served by nonprofits write reviews, share stories of inspiration and express their appreciation. http://greatnonprofits.org/org/access-partnership.