About the Organization
For more than 25 years, ACCESS has been on the frontlines of community-based health care. ACCESS provides a continuum of care model that connects patients to health care resources both within and beyond the walls of our 35 federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs).
ACCESS' services are designed to address the health of our underserved communities in such areas as preventive care, chronic disease management, and support services. To address patients' comprehensive health needs, ACCESS physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives and other providers are teamed with outreach staff, case managers, social workers and substance abuse counselors to advance a continuum of care.
This year, ACCESS community health centers, located throughout Cook and DuPage counties, will serve more than 175,000 individuals and families, including more than 30,000 uninsured patients. Last year, ACCESS provided care to 6,329 pregnant women, 26,117 patients with hypertension, 16,923 patients with diabetes and 9,919 asthmatic patients. We also provided primary care, mental health services, and care management for more than 900 men and women with HIV/AIDS, primarily in urban and suburban communities with few other resources for support and services.
About the Community
ACCESS health centers and programs are a vital ingredient to creating healthier neighborhoods. Our impact can be felt beyond the walls of our health centers, as our care teams collaborate with community residents, businesses and services to improve the neighborhoods where they live, work and play.
One way that ACCESS is creating healthier communities is by working with Walgreens to make medications more affordable for our patients. Over the past year, 37,784 ACCESS patients received prescriptions at 175 Walgreens locations, with 8,846 of those ACCESS patients receiving significantly discounted prescriptions. Co-located Walgreens pharmacies in five ACCESS health centers are also helping to redefine the role of the community pharmacist by making the pharmacist a part of the health care team.
Our work with other community systems is improving the lives of community residents. ACCESS work with the justice system has ensured that individuals have the best possible community support as they return home, by linking individuals to a regular source of health care and social supports. Preliminary findings indicate positive outcomes, with fewer than 10 percent of individuals returning to correctional institutions compared to a recidivism rate of 53 percent from Cook County correctional facilities.
ACCESS programs and services impact health from birth to adulthood. Our community health outreach, education, and care programs for moms and babies are increasing early access into prenatal care, improving immunization rates, and creating a foundation for lifelong health. ACCESS work with schools, faith-institutions and neighborhood service providers is helping to ensure that health is integrated into all aspects of community life.