Blog
Watch this link with Alliance's Nicole Emswiler, Pharm D. as she describes a new service offering common Over the Counter and Prescription drugs through a vending machine. This system, traditionally seen in hospitals, is now spreading to primary health clinics.Click the link below and turn up your volume!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap8DfUBlcfk]
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.
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'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!
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.
For full article, click here
Mike Mizeur, VP Finance with Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, joined the Alliance Medical Ministry Board of Directors in May of 2009. Mr. Mizeur has been withBCBS SC for 11 years. In addition to his VP responsibilities, Mike is also President of the company's Companion Capital Management, where he leads M&A and strategic investment activity. Prior to BCBS, Mike worked with Earnst & Young for seven years, most recently as a Consulting Senior Manager.
Mike holds a Master's degree in taxation from DePaul University in Chicago and earned his MBA from Duke University Fuqua School of Business. He holds the professional distictions of Fellow in the Academy of Healthcare Management (FAHM) and Fellow in the Life Management Institute (FLMI).
Alliance is thrilled to have Mike as part of the organization's board of directors.
Americans looking to save money during the recession often put off some medical needs, according to doctors. However, skipping certain exams or procedures could cost more in the long run.
Watch video with mention of Alliance Medical Ministry "We've got a number of areas where people used to get treated right away, and we're not seeing that anymore," said Dr. Raymond Washington, First Health general surgeon.
He said the first things people cut out are elective procedures, such as colonoscopies recommended from age 50, or younger if you have a family history of cancer. But long term, missing out on the early detection of cancer that a colonoscopy can provide costs more, Washington said.
"The whole point of prevention is to try and make sure you don't develop a problem," said Dr. Jennifer Szurgot, who works in internal medicine at First Health.
Szurgot recommended several screenings as "medical musts" to save lives and cost.
"As a female, you should be getting pap and pelvic exams through your gynecologist about once a year and mammograms beginning at age 40 annually," she said.
By age 50, women should have bone-density screenings about every two years.
By age 40, men should start prostate exams. By age 50, men should add a PSA blood test.
"At least see your doctor annually because you will not always have symptoms related to some of these medical conditions," Szurgot said.
Alliance Medical Ministry
101 Donald Ross Drive
Raleigh, NC 27610
Phone (919) 250-3320 Fax (919) 250-3322
CLINIC HOURS:
Monday - Thursday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Closing daily 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM for lunch
