Sutter Health and its Palo Alto Medical Foundation affiliate, which has a medical care facility in Dublin, have given Axis Community Health of Pleasanton $100,000 to support its ongoing services to those who lack adequate health insurance or have none at all.

Ben Drew of the Palo Alto organization said the grant represents a portion of the $2.5 million that Sutter Health awarded this month to 26 medical and dental care centers across Northern California that serve large percentages of low-income, uninsured and underinsured patients. PAMF helped secure nearly $600,000 of that funding for local community clinics in Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, including Axis.

"Caring for and supporting the communities we serve is a fundamental part of our mission," said Paul DeChant, M.D., president of PAMF's Palomares Division. "We have developed a partnership with Axis and recognize the vital role they play in caring for community members who cannot afford health insurance or basic medical care."

"We are pleased that our recommendation and endorsement of Axis yielded much needed funds that can be used to help provide care and expand services for low-income, uninsured and underinsured patients in our community," DeChant added.

Sue Compton, chief executive officer of Axis, said the nonprofit health care organization will use the $100,000 grant to complete a facility expansion and renovation project at its Pleasanton clinic site on Railroad Avenue.

Alameda County and the cities of Pleasanton and Dublin had previously committed funds in support of this project, but up to now Axis had been unable to fully fund the expansion.

The grant from Sutter Health will allow Axis to complete the project and increase its capacity to provide medical care to Tri-Valley residents by 25 percent, Compton said. The project involves the conversion of an existing office area to three exam rooms, expansion of waiting areas and renovation of bathrooms.

"We are very grateful for this generous donation from Sutter Health and for the Palo Alto Medical Foundation's sponsorship and endorsement of our grant application," Compton said. "The expansion and renovation of our Pleasanton Clinic will allow more residents to seek medical care at a time when many of our patients have either lost their health insurance or found it difficult to pay for medical care."

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