FALL 2009 HIGHLIGHTS - Sansum Clinic

health resource center, continued from page 1.
volunteers will assist anyone in finding the information he or
she needs.
Since the center opened in June of 2004, it has received over
5,000 visits for a variety of reasons. Dawn O’Bar, the HRC
Coordinator and specialized Health Educator, runs the center
and has been with Sansum Clinic since 1995. Dawn says that
they have logged more than 900 reasons that people have visited
the center ranging from understanding Advance Health Care
Directives to information on specific conditions including
Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, and Arthritis, among many others.
They also come in for lifestyle information like healthier eating
and managing stress in their lives.
The HRC recently celebrated 5 years of serving the community
by honoring its many dedicated volunteers. Of the dozen or so
active volunteers, two have been there since the center opened
and eight have been there four years or more. Their varied
backgrounds include; a retired General Motors executive, a
former college health education professor, an author and
publisher of health textbooks, and a consultant and advisor
to the World Health Organization. The HRC volunteers go
through an extensive training program, commit their time to
Did You Know?
pre-register by phone
Patients who have Medicare insurance or other patients with
no co-payment may pre-register for their appointment over the
telephone. This will allow patients to bypass the registration desk
and go directly to their appointment on that specific day
of care.
helping others, and express
a heartfelt passion for what
they do.
“I can identify with a
person who because of
a disease is suddenly
frightened. It is so very
comforting to find that
when you reach out for
help, you find people who
respond. The HRC fulfills
my desire to be there for
people, as they were there
for me,” says Bill Schultz.
David Statucki adds, “I particularly wanted to work with the
Health Resource Center because I feel it is important for people
to have accurate health care information. The HRC provides
me an opportunity to give back to the community, and enriches
my knowledge and understanding of medical issues at the
same time.”
A recent visitor to the center remarked, “When I inquired about
a suitable diet, the HRC staff sent me 13 pages of suggestions
and a suggested cookbook. You simply cannot ask for better
service than that.”
The Health Resource Center is located on the first floor of
Sansum Clinic at Pesetas Lane in Santa Barbara. Drop-in
hours are Monday-Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and
Friday from 9:00 AM until 12:00 noon, or by appointment.
The center also takes inquiries via telephone at (805) 681-7672,
and maintains an extensive Web Guide of qualified health
resources on the Sansum Clinic website at SansumClinic.org.
Please join Sansum Clinic in thanking our many
HRC volunteers.
How does this work?
Pesetas Lane office
One to two days prior to your scheduled appointment call
our Pre-Arrival Department to pre-register at 681-1840.
The pre-arrival representative will verify your insurance
and personal information and provide you with a
confirmation number.
2 SansumClinic.org
Fall 2009