Connecting to Care

When people can’t access proper care, our overall health as a state declines and future generations suffer. Georgia already ranks in the bottom 10 states for almost every health indicator. 

Today, there are nearly 2 million Georgians without health insurance – more than 650,000 in the metro Atlanta region alone.  A growing number can’t access primary medical care services because of where they live, the language they speak, the availability of primary care physicians, inadequate transportation or other issues.  

Meanwhile, every year more than 1,000 infants in Georgia die before age 1. Statewide, more than 12,000 babies are born with low birth weights. That equates to 35 babies each day.     

United Way Collaborative Networks are attacking the problems on two fronts. Our Babies Born Healthy network is working to identify factors that contribute to the high incidence of low birth weight babies, while the Health Access Partnership is ensuring individuals and families can access affordable health care services in their community. 

 

Kaiser Permanente: Funding answers

Evonne Yancey

“It's not the disease. It's access.”

Diabetes is a chronic disease that can’t be cured – not yet.  But it can be managed. That is, as long as you have a car. Or bus fare. Or insurance. Or money for expensive prescriptions. And you might have to live in the right area of town.   

If not, good luck. Chances are you are at a disadvantage.

Carol Johnson-Davis of the Diabetes Association of Atlanta says the biggest challenge to diabetes patients often isn’t the disease itself. It’s getting access to the health care needed to keep it under control. That’s why both the Diabetes Association of Atlanta and United Way are advocating for increased health care access.  

Many can and do benefit from the Diabetes Association’s screenings, workshops and medical assistance programs. Six thousand were screened for the disease last year – a high number. And thousands are given life-saving medicines. But that’s only a temporary fix. “What people need is access to proper, long-term care,” Johnson-Davis says. “When people don’t have access, they suffer more significantly from a condition that is otherwise manageable. That’s not right and it’s not fair.” 

Opening doors to health care is a job bigger than any single nonprofit, though, which is why Johnson-Davis says she’s encouraged by the new health focus of United Way. She’s participating in the Health Access Partnership and is part of the team examining health access issues. Partnering with United Way also helps the Diabetes Association reach a broader audience. “Our association [with United Way] immediately says to people that we’re an organization that does what we say we’re going to do. That opens up a lot of doors for us and, ultimately, for the people we serve.”

 

Health care for Butts County's uninsured

Dr. Bennie White Jr. helped 73 people in less than two months — people without health insurance who needed to see a doctor but couldn’t afford it. The Butts County Health Access Council, formed by residents to find ways to get health care for their neighbors, is working to help those without health insurance maintain good health. And volunteers make sure that these efforts are successful — volunteering their time in the clinics or by getting out in the community to make sure that change happens.

Dr. Bennie White Jr. helps those in Butts County who cannot afford health care.

Through funding from the Healthy Communities project, a partnership between Kaiser Permanente and United Way, Butts County received a grant of $20,000 to provide primary health care services for the uninsured.

With one doctor, one pharmacy and the health department on board, the grant provided primary health services to 73 patients between Nov. 16 and Dec. 31, 2009. Thirty-nine people filled prescriptions at Jackson Drug Store, and 66 individuals had lab work and immunizations done at the Butts County Health Department.

Every day, United Way helps residents build solutions to our toughest challenges – even finding primary health care.