Axis works to keep Valley's needy healthy Axis works to keep Valley's needy healthy (December 17, 2004)

Thousands seek medical aid each year
by Jeb Bing

Axis Community Health Center provides tens of thousands of medical and related visits to the Tri-Valley's low income, uninsured and others this year, a unique service funded by public funds, fees and other contributions.

This year, Axis is one of eight designated nonprofits by the Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund, which provided $8,500 to the organization from funds raised a year ago.

Axis, which was formerly called the Valley Community Health Center, offers medical, mental health and social support services for all in the community, regardless of income. It is best known, however, as the sole provider of these services for the poor and uninsured residents of the Valley.

Located on Railroad Avenue, Axis expects to end 2004 by providing: Ą 20,000 medical visits for low-income residents; Ą 24,000 teen and adult drug and alcohol recovery visits; Ą 2,200 mental health counseling visits for children, adults and families; Ą 2,300 domestic violence and anger management visits; Ą 28,000 visits for its women, infants and children food voucher program; and, Ą 9,800 school and community-based health education visits.

Almost every hour during the center's weekday operations, scores of mothers with their children can be found at the pediatric center, which has offered medical care this year to nearly 4,000 children. Immunizations are provided free of charge to more than 2,000 local children, and the center worked with local schools and police departments this year to provide counseling services for 50 at-risk youths involved with drugs or alcohol.

"Our teen drug and alcohol recovery program documented a 37 percent success rate," said Sue Compton, Associate Executive Director. "While that might not sound like much, it compares quite favorably with a national average success rate of only 13 percent."

Axis staff also assisted more than 5,000 Tri-Valley residents in enrolling in health plans they qualified for based on their income.

"This made health care available for many of our friends and neighbors who were uninsured and didn't know about these special programs," Compton said.

In addition, Axis staff visits Pleasanton schools on a regular basis as part of a joint program with the school district to provide tobacco education to all fourth-grade students.

Ronald Greenspane, who was named executive director of the organization in 2001, quickly stemmed an outflow of $20,000 over what the center could afford, paid down a $1 million debt, and has since placed Axis on a sound financial platform. Besides expanding the organization's services to DUI classes and other fee-paying services, Greenspane has also raised the standing of Axis in the region, participating actively on Tri-Valley, Alameda County and state panels and discussions about medical care and funding for the needy.

Among the 75 now on the Axis staff are physicians, nurses, mental health professionals, registered dieticians and a variety of support personnel. The Center was established in 1972 and its budget this year totals more than $4 million, a "realistic amount," Greenspane said, that is allowing for growth.

Revenue comes mostly from Alameda County and the state, with the balance from patient fees and Medi-Cal and Medicare. Axis also stands to benefit from funds the county will begin disbursing early next year from sales tax receipts being raised by Measure A, a voter-approved initiative that added a half-cent sales tax in the county to help pay medical costs for the needy.

For more information, look on the Axis Web site at www.axishealth.org.

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