Cascade Medical Team “Comes Home”
Since the Cascade Medical Team was formed in 2001 and it's Foundation in 2006 many things have changed in the economic environment of our home base in Lane County Oregon. In 2010 the Board of Cascade Medical Team Foundation decided to "come home" and begin holding health care events similiar to those we conducted in Guatemala. The first event was held in July 2010 in Coburg, Oregon. 207 medical patients and 52 dental patients were seen. The second homecoming event was held April 16-17, 2011, in Eugene, Oregon. 362 medical and 100 dental patients were seen. The following delineate the justification and concepts under which these events were held.
Statement of Need:
- Over 60,000 individuals in Lane County without access to healthcare (no health insurance and ineligible for Oregon Health Plan).
- Lane County has some of the largest populations of un-doctored persons in the state.
- Volunteers in Medicine and United Way’s 100% Access coalition indicate that this population is significantly underserved, without a medical home and growing.
- Many of these new underserved will eventually receive care in a manner not conducive to quality or cost effectiveness, e.g. emergency rooms.
- The greatest need is for primary care.
Event Description:
Cascade Medical Team will use its experience in operating primary care clinics in Guatemala and our access to volunteers to conduct a similar medical missions in Lane County.
Specifically services provided will:
Be without charge
Offer a full scope of primary care, plus basic laboratory testing and medications when possible.
Emergency dental services would be included in partnership with local dentists
Provide a patient experience that would result in as many definitive care solutions as possible
Serve as an access point with referral into the current system of care as it exists in Lane County, in close partnership with the 100% Access Coalition and it's member organizations.
Highlight and publicize the availability of community health resources to the larger community.
The future:
The Cascade Medical Team Foundation plans two more similiar health events in it's fiscal year 2011-12. These events are tentatively scheduled for Octorber 1-2, 2011, and April 2012. Medical volunteers should contact Richard Barnhart MD (Enable Javascript to see the email address). Nursing and office staff volunteers should contact Margie Groshong (Enable Javascript to see the email address). Non-medical volunteers should contact Gerry Bourland (Enable Javascript to see the email address). There is a need for over 100 volunteers in an event of this type. There are opportunities for anyone with the heart to make a difference for our less fortunate neighbors and friends.
If you would like to donate money to help defray the costs of medicines and supplies needed for these events you can use this link:
