Thanking Orthopedic & Fracture Clinic and Synergy Medical Systems
We’re proud to announce that thanks to Orthopedic & Fracture Clinic and Synergy Medical Systems we can now provide durable medical equipment to uninsured patients enrolled in Project Access NOW. The two companies’ donations allow patients to overcome a major barrier to orthopedic care – the prohibitive cost of durable medical equipment like boots, braces, slings, or mechanical equipment.
Since July 2009, Orthopedic & Fracture Clinic has been donating returned equipment, which Project Access NOW then refurbishes and sterilizes through a third party. According to CEO Jake Thielen, “If Project Access NOW had to buy new the equipment we donate, they’d end up paying between $2,500 and $3,000 a month.”
Synergy Medical Systems donates unsold, overstocked, and refurbished items. Partner and Operations Manager Kelly Philips said, “The timing was perfect. We’d gone through our warehouse recently and found a lot of equipment that was no longer used, discontinued items, and so on. Then we learned there was a need at Project Access NOW.”
In both companies, pro-active staff identified the collaboration opportunity. Orthopedic & Fracture Clinic‘s Kory Bell contacted Project Access NOW to offer the donation. At Synergy Medical Systems, office manager Aaron Younger looks for places to donate items where needed.
The collaboration features a distinct element of environmental sustainability. Jake Thielen: “All the items that we get returned would have gone to the dump.” Kelly Philips: “Aaron keeps my green meter running. We had excess capacity and she matched it with need.”
The partnership has been a boon for all parties. “The durable medical equipment donations allow us to facilitate care for our patients,” said Lorraine Williams, Project Access NOW Operations Manager. Jake Thielen said, “I’ve enjoyed working with Project Access NOW. They made donating easier on us, and patients get access to equipment.” Kelly Philips echoed the sentiments, saying, “Being part of the community is important to us. I like organizations like Project Access NOW because they target a specific need. It’s a privilege to partner with them.”
Both Jake Thielen and Kelly Philips mentioned they look forward to future donations. Kelly summed it up nicely when she said, “We’re sending another load over soon.”
(October 2009)
