Project Access San Diego is the Champions for Health’s flagship program, providing access to specialty care to restore health to low-income, uninsured individuals in need of specialty medical care. The network of physicians, hospitals, surgery centers, and healthcare service partners provides a full-range of healthcare services at no cost to qualifying San Diego County residents. We coordinate specialty care consultations and procedures with the physician’s office, as well as surgeries and procedures conducted at hospitals and outpatient surgery centers.
Program History
The Project Access model started in Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina in 1996. The physicians of the Buncombe County Medical Society realized the need for full healthcare access for all low-income, uninsured residents of the community. Using the public commitment of physicians to treat low-income, uninsured residents became a leveraging tool to obtain commitments from others in the community. There are now nearly 100 Access-type volunteer physician programs around the country, each adapted to fit that community’s distinct needs.
Our Network
By addressing the healthcare needs of our community’s most vulnerable, Project Access San Diego prevents the potential development of life-threatening or chronic medical conditions to the uninsured. The care provided also reduces the strain on hospital emergency departments and other community healthcare centers. Project Access patients report significant improvement in their health status after receiving care.
Physician volunteers report high satisfaction with Project Access San Diego because of our care management system. Care begins when a primary care provider at community health centers refers a patient to Project Access. The case is reviewed by the Chief Medical Officer, and a Patient Care Manager becomes the main contact for the patient referral.
Once approved, the Patient Care Manager provides the patient with one-on-one assistance, navigation through the specialty care process, and ensuring the patient receives necessary testing, imaging, and other services prior to their appointments. Patient Care Managers also assist patients with their treatment plan, transportation, and medical interpretation services.
Programs
Project Access SD
Physician's Support
”Before Project Access, I often had no resources for my uninsured patients. There was nowhere to turn for help. Now I know I can provide the care my patients need, thanks to the generous support of specialists throughout the community that volunteer with Project Access.
James Schultz, MDMedical Director, Neighborhood Healthcare, Council of Community Clinics, & Project Access San Diego
Referring Patients
Community health centers and primary care physicians caring for the uninsured can refer their patients to Project Access for necessary specialty care. Champions for Health’s Chief Medical Officer reviews referrals to ensure physicians assist those most in need. Please note the Specialties We Offer. All referral forms must be completed by the primary care provider site, and patients must be at least 18 years of age. Resources for some specialties may be limited, and wait times for specialty care appointments vary. Approximately 30% of patients referred require a surgery or procedure performed outside the specialty physician’s office. These are done either at a community hospital or outpatient surgery center.
Eligible patients for Project Access are adults between the ages of 18-50, who are uninsured, do not qualify for Medi-Cal or Medicare, cannot afford Covered California premiums, and their income is between 139% and 322% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
For current referring clinics:
To refer a patient, the medical provider should complete the Patient Referral Form, assure that the patient/family completes the Enrollment Form, and submit the forms along with relevant medical history via our HIPAA-compliant fax — 858.560.0179.
- PASD-Patient-Referral-Form – to be completed by the primary care provider
- PASD-Enrollment-Form – English
- PASD-Enrollment-Form – Spanish
- Specialties We Offer
- PASD Referral Coordinator Guide
- Information for Referral Managers
Our current referring clinics include:
Clinics
- Fallbrook Medical Center
- Fallbrook Family Health Center
- Neighborhood Healthcare
- True Care (formerly North County Health Services)
- San Ysidro Health
More Information
Please contact Dessaray Reyes at 858-300-2785.
If you are interested in becoming a referring clinic or have a patient that you would like to refer, please fill out our interest form below:
Volunteer
Join volunteer specialty care physicians and other healthcare providers in leading the efforts towards changing lives.
DONATE
Access to care for all is our mission, it shouldn’t be a dream that is out of reach. Our physician volunteers and partners, who support Champions for Health, transform the lives of patients from pain and dire medical diagnoses to health, renewed family involvement, and productive work and community life.
