A Message From Our CEO
As we enter our 12th year as an organization — and third year of the COVID-19 pandemic — I am inspired by the resilience of our staff and all that has been achieved through their dedication and commitment to our patients, our community and each other.
As I write this, the Omicron variant is heavily affecting not only the community but our staff as well.
We make daily decisions about operations, staffing, and capacity to meet patients’ needs while also caring for our own staff, who are dealing with the virus in their personal lives.
What challenging times we are in.
Yet I am inspired by the endurance, perseverance, fortitude, compassion, and commitment of so many staff members who continue to step up, go above and beyond, and volunteer to take on more responsibility to support each other and this organization.
Thanks to them, despite the challenges, NHC has accomplished so much in the last two years.
- We vaccinated 10,246 patients with the COVID-19 vaccine.
- We hosted 6+ community vaccine events with community partners including Tigard Tualatin School District, Washington County, Clackamas County, Oregon Child Development Coalition, Bridging Cultures, just to name a few.
- We established a Community Health Worker (CHW) program, thanks to grant funds from the Oregon Health Authority.
The CHW program has provided $434,116 in wraparound support services to 2,376 individuals spanning 653 households providing rental assistance, utility and food assistance, medications, to name a few. This was thanks to additional funds from Washington County, Clackamas County, and the Roots and Wings Foundation.
Additionally, in late 2019 just before COVID hit, NHC expanded.
We opened three new clinics, two primary care clinics and one school-based health center. That brought our total number of clinics to 10, together serving 16,000+ patients in Washington and Clackamas Counties.
In November of that year, NHC established a Development Department. We hired a Grant Manager and since March 2020, I am proud to report they have raised just over $2 million in grants and another $15k in employee and individual donor contributions.
NHC remains financially strong as we head into 2022.
I am hopeful the world will soon see the COVID-19 pandemic turn into an endemic so we can begin to build a new normal not only in our business, but in our personal lives as well.
My sincerest appreciation for all the support Neighborhood Health Center has received from our Board of Directors, our community partners, our patients, and our staff. Thank you for helping us build healthy communities one neighbor, and partner, at a time.
Sincerely,
Jeri Weeks, MBA, CEO
A Message From Our Board Co-Chairs
Neighborhood Health Center (NHC) began providing community healthcare services in 2010 with a mission to build healthy communities – one neighbor at a time – through patient-centered healthcare, regardless of income or current state of wellness.
We have seen substantial growth over the past 12 years, including the addition of two new clinics in November 2019. The acquisition of the new clinics allowed us to increase our services offered, expand our patient-centered care model, and increase the number of patients we serve. These expanded services allow us to achieve greater health outcomes for our patients and the communities in which they live.
As the Board of Directors, comprised of both patient and community advocates, we serve as an independent governing body focused on providing vision, leadership, support, and long-term strategic planning to ensure NHC’s viability for years to come. Our consumer Board members offer a patient perspective that guides our decisions for maintaining our mission while our community Board members bring diverse perspectives to inform leadership of best practices. As a whole we function as a strong, well-informed and engaged group, excited to help advance the principles and mission of NHC.
Over the past two years, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen the incredible leadership within NHC maintain financial sustainability, care for and support of staff’s personal needs as they navigate the societal and economic impacts of the pandemic on their personal lives, provide business and emotional support as the staff continued to serve our patients with compassion, kindness, and care to help them stay healthy through the pandemic.
From the CEO to the clinic receptionists, from the providers to the medical assistants, to the administrative staff, NHC employees continue to work diligently every day to care for each other while caring for our patients to improve their health outcomes.
We are confident that we speak for the entire Board of Directors when we say we are impressed by the entire organization and are honored to be part of Neighborhood Health Center. We look forward continuing our commitment to NHC to continue to advance healthcare for all in the communities in which we work and serve.
Donalda Dodson, Co-Chair
Brittany Marks, Co-Chair
Mission and Vision
Building healthy communities – one neighbor at a time – through patient-centered healthcare, regardless of income or current state of wellness.
Neighborhood Health Center’s patient-centered approach to healthcare honors the unique needs and circumstances of each individual patient. NHC sees people, not problems, and recognizes that the time spent as a patient in a doctor’s office is only one factor in a person’s overall health.
Our leading-edge, integrated clinical teams work in partnership with patients, their families, and the communities we serve to provide whole-person care, prevention, and ongoing support. As a result, NHC is our neighbors’ first choice for health and wellness.
2021 In Review
Neighborhood Health Center rose to the challenges of COVID-19 in 2021, holding vaccine events and ensuring patient and provider safety in numerous ways. Here we've summarized our locations, patient demographics and fiscal highlights for the year.
Spotlight on our Healthcare Heroes
50 Years of Service: Sally's Story
Sally Loprinzi, a nurse at NHC’s largest clinic, has been with NHC since the nonprofit opened ten years ago. At a time when so many are leaving the profession, Sally still speaks with joy about the career she entered more than half a century ago.
“Miss Sally,” as she’s known to patients, finds working with her youngest patients especially rewarding. “Pediatrics was my focus for many many years and I enjoy being around the kids. I enjoy giving immunizations — as difficult as it can be.” Her favorite moments?
“When I see patients back and they are happy to see me. It’s the kids that give me a big hug after a poke…”
Sally acknowledges that much has changed over the last 50+ years. Her storied career has taken her from Montana to tribal communities in Alaska to care for marginalized and underserved populations across Oregon.
Today, Sally works 10-hour days. Her hours are spent taking patient calls, nursing visits, blood pressure checks, stitch removal, immunizations, and plenty of paperwork and support of NHC providers. She also volunteers at weekend vaccine clinics, administering COVID-19 vaccines to patients and families in need.
While her passion and enthusiasm for patient care haven't waned, Sally acknowledges the toll the pandemic has taken and how it’s impacting community health in particular. Many of the patients she sees are grappling with a number of issues that make their situation worse: things like mental health challenges and housing insecurity.
Sally takes comfort in knowing that whatever the next chapter in this unprecedented time in healthcare brings, her patients and colleagues can count on her: “They know that I will follow through." And of course, she looks forward to a time when she can receive hugs from her patients again.
Beauty from Ashes: Uché, Paul and Amy’s story
Uché Nwizu, a Clinical Pharmacist with NHC, provides care for a couple with several chronic conditions. Amy* has hypertension and schizophrenia and her husband Paul* has diabetes, liver cirrhosis, and bipolar disorder.
Uché has been helping Amy and Paul manage their health for two years. Uche also supports both of them with smoking cessation. Initial visits involved Uché sitting down with the couple and their daughter (and primary caregiver) to help them understand their many medications. Amy and Paul both had very low health literacy and were easily confused, so Uché worked hard to help them organize their medications.
When Paul and Amy’s daughter and primary caregiver died suddenly and unexpectedly, the loss was devastating. As Amy and Paul shared the news with Uché, she could tell their mental health was very fragile. With support from Uché, Paul began managing the couple’s medications. Today, he knows how to manage all 40 medications between the two of them. He checks his blood sugar and Amy’s blood pressure daily.
Recently, Paul and Amy have both quit smoking. Because of their mental health history, there were limited medication options to help them quit. After many stops and starts, they were able to support each other in kicking the habit.
“I marvel at how they have grown since I first met them. They have supported each other despite their mental health challenges. Beauty does indeed come from the ashes.”
*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.
Bringing Vaccines to Migrant Farmworkers: Maribel's Story
Maribel Renteria is Clinic Manager at NHC's Canby clinic where she oversees day-to-day operations. In 2021, she and her team helped lead several Covid-19 vaccine outreach efforts to migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the Canby area.
Outreach to migrant workers isn’t a formal part of her job, but it is deeply personal for Maribel.
“I am Hispanic. I’m Mexican. I grew up in Central California. My parents have worked out in the fields and farms.”
Maribel began working alongside her family when she was just 15 years old. “I’ve had the chance to work with [this community]. Hear them out. Through these conversations, I’ve learned how difficult it is to get health care, how hard it is to get paid.” Establishing trust is an essential part of this work.
“We talk with them, hear them out…” she says. “We want them to know ‘We’re here for you. We see you.’”
In 2021, Maribel and her team vaccinated more than 200 migrant workers at volunteer outreach events coordinated by Clackamas County.
Say Hello to our new Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ann Tseng
Dr. Ann Tseng, our new Chief Medical Officer, joined NHC in October 2021. Dr. Tseng came to NHC from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) where she served as Associate Professor of Family Medicine, OHSU School of Medicine, and as Associate Chief Medical Officer at OHSU Hillsboro Medical Center. In this role, she served as a senior physician leader, providing physician oversight of outpatient operations for 18 primary and specialty care practices.
“I’m excited to be a part of NHC. I look forward to working with the team to advocate for primary care for our most vulnerable communities.”
Dr. Tseng’s focus on patient-centered clinical care, quality improvement, and primary care practice transformation makes her a perfect fit for NHC. Welcome to NHC, Dr. Tseng!
Meeting Patients Where They Need Us Most
10,000 Oregonians Vaccinated
From January 2021 to January 2022, NHC held COVID-19 vaccine outreach events across the Portland metro area, vaccinating 10,246 Oregonians. These events reached NHC patients but also many high-risk community members, who did not have other access to the vaccine or an existing health care provider.
Throughout the year, we also held several flu vaccine clinics and provided routine immunizations to hundreds of patients and families.
New Medical Van Reaches At-Risk Patients
A lack of transportation, the inability to take time off work and not knowing how or where to access care are all factors that can make it difficult for many in our community to come into a doctor’s office to receive care. This is especially true for historically marginalized populations.
To help address and overcome these barriers, NHC acquired a new mobile medical van thanks to a generous grant from Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The van will allow NHC to deliver medical care services to patients across the community. Thank you, OHA!
Lights, Camera, Outreach!
Introducing Our New Online Home
We redesigned our website to improve care access and reflect the quality services and patient-centered approach at the core of NHC. Patients, providers, staff, and supporters will find the new website more engaging and easier-to-navigate – designed to ensure our community members can find the health information they need quickly and easily.
Visit our new online home!
"Just Ask" Student Video Series
You know that stuff that’s hard to talk about? Things like mental health and sexual health? Talking about these things is easier than you think: All you have to do is ask.
That’s the message NHC wants students to take away from a series of engaging videos highlighting the health centers at Tualatin High School and Merlo Station High School. The videos are designed to make an emotional connection with local students and help them feel both comfortable and motivated to use the health centers.
NHC’s school-based health centers (SBHC's) offer a unique health care model in which comprehensive physical, mental and preventive health services are provided to youth in a school setting. SBHC's see children who otherwise would not get care and help students get back to the classroom faster.
NHC produced the videos with grant funding from the Oregon Health Authority. In just two weeks, the important message had reached more than 30,000 people on social media, where they are being promoted to parents and families in the region.
MyChart Telehealth How-To
MyChart is a convenient platform for patients to schedule visits, communicate with the NHC care team, refill prescriptions, and much more. It's also a crucial connection platform between providers and patients, who may have different care access needs or preferences.
This year, NHC teamed up with local production firm, Red Door Films, to produce series of MyChart "how-to" videos." Available in both English and Spanish language, patients enjoy a virtual walk-through of this important care management tool, including tools to help them communicate with their care team, access test results, and refill prescriptions.
Thank You To Our Grantors and Sponsors
Our mission to build healthy communities one neighbor at a time can't be done without the help of our grantors and sponsors.