We Felt the Economic Downturn Immediately. Patient Volumes Swelled in October and Continued to Increase Lindsay C
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We felt the economic downturn immediately. Patient volumes swelled in October and continued to increase Lindsay C. Farrell, M.B.A., F.A.C.M.P.E. Stewart Tabin, Chairperson David K. Sherman, Chairperson in November and December as more and more local President/CEO Maria M. Perez, Vice Chairperson Joyce Rheingold, Vice Chairperson people lost their jobs and experienced anxiety and the Anita Wilenkin, MA, MPH Amy McNamara, Secretary Michael Curry, Treasurer/Secretary physical symptoms of their lost livelihoods. Patients Chief Operating Officer with compromised immune systems from heightened Charles Chehebar, Treasurer Leslie Allen Maria Mazzotta, C.P.A. stress appeared with colds, sinus infections, sore throats Larry Breen Sonja Bartlett and the like. Tension headaches, neck/back/shoulder Chief Financial Officer Maritza Budiuck Tyler Beebe pains, palpitations and panic attacks were common Daren Wu, M.D. Walter Edge Walter Edge presentations. Our physicians, nurse practitioners, mid- Chief Medical Officer Jimmy Fink wives, dentists and social workers became keenly aware Drew Fixell Janet Bozzone, D.M.D. of the economy’s toll on our most vulnerable neighbors, Jennifer Gurahian Barbara Gibson Director of Dentistry including families living paycheck to paycheck with no Henry Kensing Elinor Griffith savings to get them through. As always, we know that Shonny Capodilupo, L.C.S.W. Dorian Lindsay Jeremy Hardisty providing treatment along with emotional support is Director of Behavioral Health Tony Mejias Brian Keating needed in our communities. In addition many new patients Ellette Hirschorn, R. N. Kevin Nelson Dhruv Narain appeared at our doors in these troubled times—patients Director of Clinical Support Norman E. Nichols Kathy Perkal newly uninsured and uncertain of what to do. In 2007 Services and Programs Margoth Pilla Howard Schrader we saw 36,000 patients; in 2008 that number swelled to Pam Ferrari, R.N. Mary Scully 40,000 - an increase of over 11%. Indeed it was a trying Rosa Rojas Director of Performance Improvement time at every level of our organization as we grappled Diana Schaefer Stewart Tabin with surging demand and reduced patient payments. Desta Lakew, M.P.H. Howard S. Schrader Director of Development David K. Sherman Andres Valdespino The 2008 Presidential Campaign and the election of Luis Vicetti President Obama had special significance at Open Door in light Donna Wade of our nation’s need to deal with inequitable health care and increasing numbers of Americans without health coverage. The new administration is making leadership changes and providing new emphasis at the federal agencies with whom we work. Our partners at the National Association of Community Health Centers have given voice to our views on how to improve health care and make it more cost effective and accessible. It seems that the Obama Administration is listening, and that community health centers will receive unprecedented support. 165 Main Street Ossining, NY 10562 113 Bowman Avenue (914) 941-1263 Port Chester, NY 10573 (914) 939-1477 With our electronic medical record fully deployed, we are pursuing quality health care like never before, with the goal of being a formally recognized “patient centered medical home”. ePrescribing is now a reality at Open Door as are interoperable laboratory orders and results; we can follow up with patients who have been lost and those for whom we are missing laboratory results or specialty consultations; we have the ability to scan thousands of patient visits with 5 Grace Church Street 40 Olivia Street considerable ease and as a result know how well our patients are doing. With embedded clinical decision support that Port Chester, NY 10573 Port Chester, NY 10573 we developed thanks to funds from the federal Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, the electronic medical record (914) 937-8899 (914) 939-1146 supports our providers at the point of care and enhances planned care and evidenced based treatment. We look to the not too distant future when we can move standardized electronic information across the continuum of care: from Open Door to specialty practices, to the hospital and back on a “to-be-paved” health care information highway. It was an unprecedented year and we have been truly fortunate to have the unwavering support of our community partners, 80 Beekman Avenue 132 Rectory Street donors and friends. For that, we extend our deepest appreciation. Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591 Port Chester, NY 10573 (914) 631-4141 (914) 939-1205 Lindsay Farrell Stewart Tabin David Sherman 30 West Main Street 1 Tamarack Road President and CEO Chairman, Operating Board Chairman, Foundation Board Mount Kisco, NY 10549 Port Chester, NY 10573 (914) 666-3272 (914) 934-5211 PATIENT REVENUE: As the number of individuals we serve increased over the year, we relied heavily on leveraging our investment in the health information technology platform we had purchased the year before. We established clear clinical ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES: To help provide access to essential primary and Receive a charitable deduction for the full fair guidelines and outcome goals. Through focused intervention, we have preventive health care services, gifts can be made market value of your gift, along with an exemption reduced the percent of emergency visits for unrestricted support or for a specific purpose. from capital gains tax, on shares that you have It has been an exciting year and we put significant among children from 38% in 2003 to owned for over one year. efforts into improving the functionality of our 1% in 2008, teaching parents to be e-Clinical Works, electronic medical record proactive with their children’s oral health. Bequests and life income gifts help ensure vibrant system. A tremendous amount of work has healthy communities for future generations. Celebrate the lives and achievements of special gone into structuring data and we are now Through our 4 Our Children program, the Charitable gift annuities, pooled income fund gifts individuals by making gifts in their honor. better aligned for a pay-for-performance Behavioral Health Department has focused and charitable trusts can also provide lifetime model of reimbursement. on early identification of social, emotional payments to you. and behavioral problems in the pediatric Your employer may double or even triple the value population served by Open Door. In 2008, of your gift. Your company’s human resources this program was included in our internal To use our convenient and secure Web site to office can provide appropriate information. Clinical Performance Improvement Program make a gift, log on to www.opendoormedical.org/ focusing on developmental screenings and the support/?c=10. introduction of an autism screening tool for children 18 & 24 months (as recommended For additional information contact the Development by both the Center for Disease Control and the Make a commitment to become a friend of Open Department at (914) 502-1410. American Medical Association). The initiative TOTAL PATIENT VISITS OUR PATIENTS Door through monthly gifts transferred directly from was a great success with 85% of our 18 & REVENUE 2004–2008 AT A GLANCE your bank account or credit card. and 24 month well child visits having had a developmental and autism screening. In 2008, through Open Door’s cancer Caring for patients with chronic diseases is one screening initiative 25 uninsured women who of our signature accomplishments. At Open were screened were diagnosed with cancer Door, we took care of 2,779 hypertensive and referred for treatment. Early diagnosis patients and 1,271 diabetic patients can be life saving. throughout our facilities. The average Our Women Infant & Children (WIC) program blood pressure and sugar levels in these continues to draw record numbers of patients were better controlled than the participants. In 2008 Open Door initiated a national average. Peer Counselor Program engaging mothers in Open Door participated in the Hudson the breast feeding program to help build Valley Asthma Collaborative, with a goal of establishing an asthma action plan for every patient. This action plan allows patients to avert severe asthma attacks by teaching them how to take their medications when well, when they are sick and in an emergency situation. Twenty-five percent of Open Door’s asthma patients have an asthma action plan in place. Our Dental Department has grown. In 2008 we served nearly 10,000 patients who made over 23,000 visits. Twenty-five percent of our dental patients are under the age of six. awareness of the value of breast feeding and provide support and counseling to new mothers. In 2008 Open Door’s average breastfeeding initiation rate was 87.9% - the third highest initiation rank of all WIC agencies in New York State. The value of nutrition is a lesson we share with our patients. As a participant in the state-wide Farmers Market Nutrition Program, Open Door’s WIC program distributes checks to its participants to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at local markets during the summer months. In 2008 we had the third highest farmer’s market check redemption rate in New York State. We expanded our reach into the Port Chester School District, opening up two more school-based health centers in the Port Chester Middle school and the Port Chester High School. Health Information Technology: INDIVIDUAL DONORS, ORGANIZATIONS & CONTRIBUTORS Our success in improving the clinical care environment can in large part be attributed to our move to an electronic health information platform. This technology platform has enabled us to support clinical care delivery, improve operational efficiencies and engage in research, setting an infrastructure in place to prepare us for the pay-for-performance environment over the horizon. Our early foray into the health information technology platform has placed us among a select group of early adopters in the community health center world. We continue to share what we learn with our peers across the country and use this technology in ways that benefit the community we serve as well as the broader health delivery service community.