Rural and Urban Access to Health

The RUAH program connects individuals in the community with needed services including primary health care and preventative health services. St.Vincent Mercy Hospital employs Health Access Workers who connect uninsured/underserved individuals and families to primary and preventative care as well as to other needed community services.

Our goal is to identify and remove financial, geographical and cultural barriers to health care.

We partner with other community agencies that provide both client referrals and resources. The Health Access Worker also advocates for patients with service providers and serves as a system navigator.

During 2009, the Health Access Workers served 102 clients, with 157 public and private program referrals.

Medical Assistance for Those in Need

The RUAH program also includes a medication assistance initiative that brings together pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help income-qualified patients who lack prescription coverage to get no cost/low cost medicines. A total of 859 medications totaling $393,506.82 were provided in 2009.

Finally, RUAH is also active in ensuring that health care services are language accessible and d culturally sensitive to minimize health disparities.