History of Project Access

History of Project Access of Durham County

In 2006 four local groups – the Partnership for a Healthy Durham, Durham CAN (Congregations, Associations, and Neighborhoods), Latino Community Credit Union, and Durham Health Partners – came together to advocate for improved healthcare for the low-income uninsured population in Durham County. They began researching potential local solutions to this problem and bringing together the local agencies, organizations, and leaders who would need to be involved.

In December 2006 these community groups convened all the local stakeholders to commit to designing and implementing a local program to expand healthcare to Durham’s low-income uninsured population. All agreed at the beginning that this is a national, or at least statewide, problem, but we cannot afford to wait for those slow processes to create real change for our neighbors in need. Durham has too many resources to wait; we can make something happen here and now that will hopefully drive change at higher levels.

One of the results of this process is the imminent beginning of “Project Access of Durham County.” This is a program that will provide specialty care to uninsured Durham residents living under 200% of the federal poverty level. Many of these people have access to primary care through Lincoln Community Health Center or other “safety-net” healthcare providers, but specialty care is a challenge. For example, if one of these patients needs a cardiology (heart doctor) consultation and echocardiogram (a test for how well the heart is performing), Lincoln and other primary care providers may not be able to help them.

Project Access of Durham County (PADC) will create a system by which physician specialists can volunteer to provide this needed care at no charge to the patient. PADC has emerged out of this extraordinary process of commitment from

  • The Partnership for a Healthy Durham
  • Durham CAN
  • NC Institute of Medicine
  • Durham County Government
  • Duke University Health System
  • Lincoln Community Health Center
  • The Durham-Orange Medical Society
  • Prima Health
  • NC Specialty Hospital
  • The Durham Academy of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy
  • Community Physicians of Durham County

Physicians: Become a part of Project Access! Download and complete a physician commitment form (Word file).

To contact Project Access Durham County [PADC]

Phone: 919-470-7262
Web: www.projectaccessdurham.org

Sally Wilson, Executive Director
swilson@projectaccessdurham.org

Krystal Hollman
khollman@projectaccessdurham.org