When two organizations share the same vision for “keeping people healthy” remarkable things can happen through collaboration. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently awarded Oswego Health with Health and Wellness Award funding to support Primary Care at Lakeview.
The Oswego Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Oswego Health, the largest nonprofit health care system in Oswego County, recently applied for funding to expand access to care, and was thrilled to be notified that Excellus BlueCross BlueShield selected the project.
Primary Care at Lakeview is a safety net clinic located within the Lobdell Center for Mental Health and Wellness at Lakeview. The clinic accepts every patient that seeks care, especially those that are overlooked, marginalized, and have severe, persistent mental illness. The clinic works with each patient to develop an individualized plan that is followed by all team members in an effort to provide the most comprehensive care and improve patient outcomes.
“Our Health and Wellness Awards demonstrate a corporate commitment to supporting local organizations that share our mission as a nonprofit health plan,” said Mark Muthumbi, regional president, Excellus BCBS. “These awards complement our existing grants and sponsorships with agencies that work to enhance quality of life, including health equity and health care access in upstate New York.”
By regularly seeing a primary care provider, your health risk factors can be identified and controlled before they become problems. Your primary care provider encourages you to take charge of your health and is a trusted partner for that care.
Oswego Health currently has six primary care locations and employs 19 primary care providers throughout Oswego County. Before applying for the award, Oswego Health analyzed the community's need for healthcare services by conducting a community needs survey. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents reported that they travel outside the county for health care services. The access to health care indicator reports the percentage of adults aged 18 and older self-report that they do not have at least one person who they think of as their doctor or health care provider. This indicator is relevant because access to regular primary care is important to obtaining preventive health care and avoiding unnecessary emergency department visits.
“Patient-centered care is the core of our mission at Oswego Health,” stated Michael Backus, President & CEO for Oswego Health. “Whether that means recruiting top medical professionals to meet the health care needs of our community, or purchasing state-of-the-art technology, we are making these investments, thanks to generous donors such as Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, to ensure the highest level of quality health care needed is provided locally.”
Primary Care at Lakeview is now accepting new patients. For more information, call (315) 326-3536.
Contact:
Edward Byrnes, Edward.byrnes@excellus.com
About Oswego Health:
The mission of Oswego Health is to provide accessible, quality care and improve the health of residents throughout Oswego County. As a nonprofit healthcare system established in 1881, Oswego Health is proud to continue to be one of Oswego County’s largest employers. More than 1,200 employees spread throughout its 17 locations, work for the Oswego Health system, which includes the 132-bed community Oswego Hospital, a 32-bed psychiatric acute-care facility with multiple outpatient behavioral health service locations, The Manor at Seneca Hill, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility, and Springside at Seneca Hill, an independent retirement community. The health system also operates Oswego Health Home Care, the only hospital-based certified home healthcare agency in the County as well as two outpatient centers, including the Fulton Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, physical therapy, and occupational health services, and the Central Square Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, and physical therapy services. In addition, Oswego Health includes the Oswego Health captive professional corporation, Physician Care P.C., providing physician services in orthopedics, cardiology, ENT, gastroenterology, breast care, audiology, general surgery, bariatrics, urology, and primary care. For more information about Oswego Health visit www.oswegohealth.org.
About Excellus BlueCross BlueShield:
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a nonprofit health plan with 1.5 million upstate New York members. The company's mission is to help people live healthier and more secure lives through access to high-quality, affordable health care. Its products and services include cost-saving prescription drug discounts, wellness tracking tools and access to telemedicine. With more than 4,200 employees, the company is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce to foster innovation and better serve its members. It also encourages employees to engage in their communities by providing paid volunteer time off as one of many benefits. To learn more, visit ExcellusBCBS.com.
