Annual Report 2010 - Gifford Medical Center

medicine/fi nance division
Health care you can afford
Patients receiving help from Health Connections
caseworker Michele Packard say she is “phenomenal”
at fi nding fi nancial assistance options.
Well, yes.
In many communities, there are free health clinics. If
you don’t have insurance, you can go to those clinics for
primary care from a physician who is often volunteering his
or her time.
The Randolph community does not have such a resource.
There is no standalone free clinic with volunteer doctors.
Years ago, Randolph did have one. It was called the
Neighborhood Health Clinic, but in 1997 the clinic joined
Gifford to provide seamless care and remove any stigma
with a free clinic.
Patients now go to any provider at Gifford Medical
Center for any needed health service and receive the same
high-quality care as every other patient.
“Our doctors are basically ‘insurance blind,’” notes
Gifford Vice President of Finance David Sanville. All
patients receive the same care, regardless of their insurance
coverage or ability to pay.”
Patients can still receive help accessing insurance, social
services and financial assistance
programs that existed
“Anytime I
had insurance
issues, she’s
been there.”
Lisa Sargeant,
Tunbridge
under the free health clinic
model through a continuing
grant-funded program now
called Health Connections.
Championed by caseworker
Michele Packard, Health
Connections is part of the
Vermont Coalition of Clinics
for the Uninsured.
Michele visits patients
at their bedside, in the
Emergency Department, talks to them by phone, meets
with them in her office and reaches out to them before
a bill lands at their feet. She signs them up for insurance
programs, connects them with a dentist, finds help for
prescription drug costs, accesses Gifford’s free and reduced
cost assistance program, helps them sign-up for assistance
at other hospitals for their follow-up specialty care, and
sometimes arranges for transportation to appointments.
She sits shoulder to shoulder with each person, filling out
paperwork on their behalf, and bends over backward to
find assistance options.
“Michele can pretty much find anything for anyone,”
says Gail Bourassa, Gifford’s Director of Patient Access and
Financial Services.
“The patient is treated as an individual. Every situation is
unique, and we try to work with each patient to the best of
our ability,” Michele explains. “I tell patients that I will do
everything I can to help you. If you work with me, I can
make it better in most circumstances.”
Patients appreciate the financial help and peace of mind
she provides.
Lisa Sargeant, a senior caregiver from Tunbridge,
tells her story. “Once upon a time, I was having trouble
making ends meet.” Michele helped her obtain insurance,
understand her bills and most recently get on a lower cost
medication plan.
“She’s phenomenal. Anytime I’ve had insurance issues,
she’s been there. She’s like a big sister to me. She always
has an answer to everything. I don’t freak out. I have peace
of mind. I consider her part of my family,” says Lisa.
George Rich of Randolph was hospitalized at Gifford
Gifford’s Best Kept Secrets - 4 -
Annual Report 2010