Mission Statement for Citizens for Healthcare Access (CHA)
with edits in 2022

Mission: To promote health and healthcare access in East Jefferson County, with a particular focus on local, affordable, quality healthcare, including behavioral and dental healthcare.

Who we are:
Citizens for Healthcare Access (CHA) of East Jefferson County is a diverse group of citizens who meet monthly to discuss healthcare issues that affect the access of county residents to healthcare. We are part of Local 2020, but do not have official members, have no officers, and charge no dues. We do have an informally designated facilitator. We welcome anyone who wants to attend.

What we do:
1. Provide a forum to share and disseminate information, education and advocacy opportunities with a concern for keeping up to date on Federal, State and local legislation and policies which local health and the availability of services and care.
2. Provide a safe place where individuals can be heard and supported in their concerns about or efforts to address specific healthcare access issues.
3. Monitor social media to help understand grass roots concerns.
4. Form work groups to develop resources and take on projects
5. Work to identify gaps in care and service and educate on  actions attendees could take to maximize the effectiveness of services provided in the County Hospital District and Public Health programs.
6. Generate health and healthcare related questions for candidates for public office..
7. Educate the public to increase healthcare literacy.


ISSUES WE SEE WITHIN OUR SCOPE

 

Jefferson County Citizens for Healthcare Access

Results of Brainstorming, November 21, 2017 (updated in 2022)

 

Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)

CHIP  Helped get it implemented in 2018

Population health and wellness

  • Treat the high blood pressure, not the stroke in the ED.
  • Promote preventative care;  importance of having a primary care provider
  • Understand and participate in Olympic Community of  Health
  • Exercise Classes  for seniors (2)
  • Port Townsend Diet:  influence foods offered in grocery stores, calories in restaurants

 

Public education and health literacy

  • Establish community health worker/advocate program.
  • Improve outreach to improve health literacy.
  • Educate community about cultural change coming in healthcare delivery
  • Get everyone enrolled in affordable health insurance
  • Spread the word about healthcare events

 

Financial barriers to care at Jefferson Healthcare

  • Financial experience of patients—from beginning to end.
  • Easier access to question and compare prices
  • Transparency for costs/prices at JH (2)
  • Deal with issue of high hospital prices for uninsured
  • Service competition to bring price down
  • Reduce # of clients being sent to collection

Behavioral Health Integration

  • Mental health and substance abuse treatment;  integration with JH
  • Invite Jefferson Healthcare to hear plans to further integrate behavioral health
  • Improve behavioral/mental health access and better follow-up for people undergoing treatment

 

Access to dental care

  • Help JHC recruit dental providers and fund new clinic (success)
  • Advocate to Provide dental at schools
  • Advocate for new dental clinic at JH (Success)

 

Other Issues

  • Jail Health Integration:  Help Sheriff and County integrate healthcare for jail prisoners (2)
  • Explore ways of providing affordable drugs to all
  • Inform on issues that attendees might  advocate for family planning in school based clinics (2)
  • Concerns over hospitals being bought or merged with religious institutions.
    • Examples of this issue is that providers (i.e. doctors and others)  from Saint Michael’s and other Catholic merged hospitals who may work here on a temporary basis are required to follow the end of life directives (ERD’s) here at Jefferson. If not they can be fired. The other concern is emergency transport. If you’re in an accident you can be taken to Saint Michael’s where your medical directive may not be acknowledged.

 

Political Action and advocacy

The CHA does not advocate but we have issues that participants raise as advocacy issues worth being aware of and supporting if you so desire. Our group has taken votes to be in  support of efforts in the following areas.

  • Single payer for WA State and/or Universal Healthcare.
  • Find “acupuncture points” to best address threats and promote access for all.
  • Advocate for repairing the Medicare system.
  • Hold forum with candidates for 2022 elections
  • Meet with elected officials (local, state, federal) about our concerns

 

How we operate as a group of concerned citizens

  • Look for opportunities  to improve access in local community and take action for resolution
  • Search out issues—we don’t know everything.  Assume = ass out of U and Me.
  • Update website through Local 20/20