August 29, 2008
Recently, the U.S. Census Bureau released the latest figures on the number of uninsured Americans (click here for details). Based on 2007 population estimates, the number of uninsured has declined from 47 million to just under 45.7 million, a decline from 15.8% of the population to 15.3%.”>U.S. Census Bureau released the latest figures on the number of uninsured Americans. Based on 2007 population estimates, the number of uninsured has declined from 47 million to just under 45.7 million, a decline from 15.8% of the population to 15.3%.
This sounds like good news, but a look into the numbers reveals a different story. Residents who gained insurance coverage can mostly be attributed to an increase in the number qualifying for public programs such as Medicaid (called Medi-Cal in California). In other words, because of lost jobs and declining wages, a greater number of Americans have fallen into poverty, therefore qualifying for public coverage.
Is this really progress?
June 17, 2008
The State of California is contemplating devastating budget cuts to address the $16 billion budget gap for the next fiscal year. Among the programs expected to be axed are dental services to adults who are currently covered by Medi-Cal. Legislators are also planning to reduce Medi-Cal reimbursement rates and make it harder for families in poverty to qualify for subsidized coverage.
As CHAP has demonstrated over its ten year history, the best way to reduce health care costs is to make primary and preventive medical and dental care accessible and affordable. By promoting healthy lifestyles and offering early intervention to chronic or life-threatening illnesses, clinics like CHAP help to keep low-income patients in their jobs and homes and out of the emergency room.
While we still hold out hope for a reprieve from the Governor, the fact remains that California’s health care safety net is already underfunded. We need your help to ensure that CHAP has adequate resources to meet the health care needs of our community.
We would like to ask you to make a gift to the CHAP Care Fund to underwrite the direct medical services that we provide to low-income families from Pasadena and Altadena for which we receive no compensation from any public or private payer source. You may make a donation by visiting www.chapcare.org and clicking the “Donate Now” button.
As CHAP continues its second decade of service to the greater Pasadena community, it is essential that those of us who have health insurance, secure employment and abundant financial resources ensure that our neighbors have access to affordable, high quality medical and dental care.
March 26, 2008
On Friday, May 2, 2008, CHAP will commemorate its first decade of service to the greater Pasadena community at its annual gala. The event will be held at the Westin Hotel, Pasadena, beginning with a reception at 6:00 p.m., followed by a delectable dinner and inspiring program.
We are please to announce that Dr. Robert Ross, President & CEO of the California Endowment, will join us as keynote speaker.
The event is being sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, Southern California Edison, L.A. Care Health Plan, Huntington Memorial Hospital and other generous supporters. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.
Tickets are now available by calling Ellen Johnson, (626) 398-6300 ext. 21. Premium tickets are $200 and standard seating is $150 per person.
Please join us as we celebrate CHAP’s success!
March 18, 2008
CHAP is pleased to announce its 2008 award recipients.
Community Health Action Hero: Robert E. Tranquada, MD
Community Health Action Award:
Beverly Mosley (Planned Parenthood of Pasadena)
Paula Verrette, MD, (Huntington Hospital)
Judith Zitter (Kaiser Permanente)
These exemplary individuals will be recognized at CHAP’s Tenth Anniversary Gala on Friday, May 2, 2008, at the Westin Hotel, Pasadena. Additional corporate sponsors are being sought. Individual tickets are also available. For more information, please contact Ellen Johnson, (626) 398-6300 ext. 21.
January 29, 2008
Countless people and organizations work tirelessly each day to improve the health of our community. Most of them work outside the spotlight. Community Health Alliance of Pasadena (CHAP) believes it is time to shine the light of recognition on those whose vision, leadership or service has impacted the health of our community in an inspiring way.
At its annual gala on May 2, 2008, CHAP wishes to honor an individual or organization that in an exemplary way has put the “care” in health care. We are calling on our friends, colleagues and community partners to suggest deserving nominees for CHAP Community Health Action Awards.
We wish to be as inclusive as possible. Nominees may include a paramedic who saved someone’s life; a volunteer who has offered a lifetime of service to health causes; a civic or political leader who has championed health policy; a donor whose generosity has impacted the health of others; a corporation whose policies have improved employee wellbeing; a research scientist who contributed to a treatment breakthrough; a front-line staff member who exceeds expectations; or a service club that has improved the lives of children. While there are many worthy recipients, a special individual or organization will be selected and honored at our event.
Nomination Criteria:
- Nominees may be individuals, corporations, nonprofit agencies, consortiums, and other organized groups or associations.
- Nominees must reside in, be based in or provide service that positively impacts the greater Pasadena area.
- Nominee (or representative) must be available to receive the award on May 2.
- Nomination forms must be received by February 22, 2008.
Recipients of the inaugural awards presented in 2007 included Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, State Senator Jack Scott, Health Department Director Wilma J. Allen and the Pasadena Healthcare Consortium.
If you have any questions, please contact Brian Hayes, Director of Development & External Affairs, (626) 398-6300 ext. 20, or bhayes@chapcare.org.
January 12, 2008
When representatives of neighborhood groups, health care providers and civic leaders began to convene in the early 1990s to address the lack of health care resources in Northwest Pasadena, founders were confident that the bold vision of a medical facility that was affordable and accessible to our community’s least advantaged residents would become a thriving reality.
On a January day in 1998, CHAP welcomed its first patient. Since then CHAP’s medical and dental providers have delivered more than 150,000 visits to well over 15,000 children and adults.
On Saturday, January 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., CHAP will celebrate its Tenth Birthday with a gathering of friends and supporters to reminisce about the old times and envision the future of CHAP. We will offer tours of the clinic and rededicate the newly renovated facility for its next decade of service to the community. Invited guests include political leaders, supporting organizations, former and current board members and patients.
The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to Ellen Johnson, (626) 398-6300 ext. 21, or ejohnson@chapcare.org. We look forward to sharing with you our past achievements and future plans.
December 7, 2007
Is it just me or do people see particularly stressed these days?
It turns out, it isn’t just me.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has released results of its annual health interview survey and has determined that one-in-four County residents have hypertension. It isn’t just the hours spent in freeway traffic that is causing our blood to boil. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can be correlated with lifestyle factors, including the lack of physical activity, alcohol use, smoking, poor nutrition and obesity. According to the study, the number of County residents with hypertension has increased by 40% since 1997.What is especially troubling is that hypertension is known as the “silent killer.” According to Jonathan Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and County Health Officer, “Unfortunately, many persons with hypertension do not seek treatment until complications develop because they don’t have symptoms and in some cases, are unaware they have the disease.” Hypertension increases a person’s risk for having a heart attack, heart failure, or stroke, and can also lead to kidney failure, vision loss, and dementia.
The report lists several recommendations for individuals to prevent the risks of hypertension:
- Eat a healthy diet of food that includes at least 4 servings each of fruits and vegetables, and two servings each of daily low fat dairy foods and whole grains.
- Limit salt and sodium intake.
- Limit alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks daily for men and no more than one drink daily for women.
- Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate daily physical activity.
- Stop smoking.
- See a regular health care provider and get your blood pressure checked regularly.
If you don’t have a medical home, you are welcome at CHAP.
December 4, 2007
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released its annual check-up on the health of the nation. The comprehensive study (if you wish to read all 567 pages, click here) found several advances worth celebrating—improving life expectancy, lower cholesterol rates and improving mortality from heart disease stroke and cancer—but gains were not uniform across the country. Lack of access due to geographic barriers, lack of insurance and cultural barriers further advance the notion that we are becoming a nation of Healths and Health Nots.
Most troubling about the report’s findings is that 40 million adults did not receive needed services because they could not afford them. Nearly 25 million did not access dental care, 19 million avoided filling costly prescriptions and 15 million did not avoided medical care because of the high cost. A significant portion of these individuals have insurance.
CHAP is doing its part to provide access to ensure that our community has more Healths than Health Nots.
November 15, 2007
While CHAP is a single health center serving greater Pasadena, it is part of a movement much greater than itself. Federally-funded community health centers (CHCs), located in every state throughout the nation, are the medical homes to approximately 15 million American residents. CHCs are unique hybrids of public-private goodwill that have been shown to deliver high quality health care for a fraction of the cost of private providers.
Dr. Robert Ross, President and CEO of the California Endowment, sings the praises of CHCs in his recent blog entry “If I Had A Hammer.”
“Community health centers represent this nation’s best investment of this nation’s health care dollar; no other dollar spent comes close.”
Read Dr. Ross’ article here.
October 19, 2007
Patients are skeptical the first time they attend CHAP’s Laugh Yoga class. After all, Yoga may be a new concept for them and they may feel self-conscious that people will be laughing at them rather than with them. It doesn’t take long for the instructor to break the ice and by the end of the evening, participants unanimously agree that their stress has been released.
CHAP started its Laugh Yoga was class in May 2007 and it has become one of the most popular health education options available to CHAP patients.
An increasing number of studies point to the health benefits of laughter. The act of laughter increases blood flow, oxygenates the bloodstream, exercises the diaphragm and contracts the abs. It shown to reduce stress hormones, such as cortisol, epinephrine and adrenaline and increase health-enhancing hormones like endorphins. A study by the University of Maryland Medical Center found that adults who responded to stressful situations with laughter were significantly less likely to have suffered from a heart attack. Laughter also creates an emotional connection between people. Surveys have found that marriages between couples who laugh frequently are less likely to end in divorce.
So, if you’re feeling stressed and depressed, CHAP has a prescription for you. We are pleased to present CHAPShtick, an evening of comedy on November 8. The event will be held on Thursday, November 8, at The Spot restaurant, 2032 Lincoln Avenue, Pasadena. Tickets are $30 and available by calling (626) 398-6300 Ext. 21.
