The Health Alliance for the Uninsured received honors as the Outstanding Organization of the Year during the 2021 Oklahoma Charitable Clinic Association Statewide Conference in March.
“During this last year, HAU remained committed to supporting our safety net clinic network and the low-income, uninsured patients they serve. The Health Alliance for the Uninsured (HAU)’s mission to be a catalyst for improved health care services for those who would be unable to obtain them,” said Jeanean Yanish Jones, executive director of HAU.
In addition to providing Care Connection specialty physician services and medication assistance, HAU supported telehealth initiatives, current COVID testing site information, provided personal protective equipment, access to healthcare workers and volunteers for vaccines and then training and vaccine allotments for the clinics to be vaccination sites for our most vulnerable Oklahomans.
HAU facilitated on-going conversations between clinics, referral partners, hospital networks, and local, state, and federal healthcare authorities to anticipate the evolving needs of our stakeholders and direct resources when and where we can have the greatest impact.
“As with any crisis, low-income populations tend to be the hardest hit and experience the greatest challenges finding the help they need. HAU did not let that happen in Oklahoma,” said Yanish Jones.
“Every day, HAU is speaking up for the most vulnerable among us, ensuring that their needs are prioritized, and that resources are equitable distributed.”
HAU and its partners also closely monitored and adhered to guidance from the CDC, the White House, and the Oklahoma State Department of Health, which significantly impacts service delivery and patient care and has resulted in the temporary closing of almost all of physical clinic locations and converting to a telehealth model.
“Clinic staff members are doing their best to continue to meet the healthcare needs of patients remotely and/or are adapting service protocols to limit contact,” said Yanish Jones.
Oklahoma Charitable Clinic Association was incorporated as a non-profit state membership association in March 2011. As early as 2004, there was interest in forming a statewide organization to network free clinics; however, it was not until the fall of 2010 that key individuals were in place to complete the incorporation process. Through the assistance of Mark Cruise from Free Clinic Solutions of Tampa, FL, a team of individuals worked to complete important steps to incorporate as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to develop and strengthen Oklahoma’s charitable clinics and to collaborate to improve the health of vulnerable Oklahomans. http://okcharitableclinics.org/