United Way helping expand health care in Weld County

I am honored to share with you the medical assistance offered by United Way of Weld County. As a practicing pulmonary and critical-care physician in Greeley and a board member at United Way of Weld County, I have experienced many firsthand accounts of the ongoing medical needs in the county. The goals of United Way of Weld County are to advance education, income and health. From a health aspect, United Way of Weld County targets this through the support of promoting wellness and improving the health of people of all ages.

Weld County is fortunate to have first-class medical care available through a variety of sources. Unfortunately, there are many individuals in Weld County who do not have access to medical care. This need is apparent through a number of different age groups. As recently shown in Kids Count in Colorado, Weld County has an infant mortality above the average rate in Colorado at 6.2 per 1,000. We also have an uninsured rate in children (ages 0 to 18) at 13.8 percent compared with a state average of 9.1 percent. Adults, as well, have a number of unmet needs including access to health care, medication coverage or even preventive care. United Way of Weld County provides medical assistance to these different groups in a number of ways.

United Way’s 2-1-1 program has a 7 percent call average for health care needs on a monthly basis. This translates into an average of 91 calls per month. Referrals provided include dental, medical and mental-health care. As many people can relate to, the cost of medication coverage is significantly high. Not uncommonly, people will make a choice of food, shelter or clothing over needed medications. Over the past years, United Way of Weld County, in partnership with FamilyWize, has offered a prescription discount card that saved Weld residents more than $900,000. Additionally, the Med-Aid Prescription Assistance Program allows a one-time prescription assistance for people in Weld County who have an urgent medication need but no way to cover the cost.

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United Way of Weld County provides a prenatal services program that it has funded 100 percent from its inception at the county’s Department of Public and Environment. The program offers a full-time prenatal community outreach coordinator who assists pregnant women to promote healthy births. In the first six months of 2014, the program exceeded its goal with 91 percent of enrolled clients having completed their first prenatal visit within their first trimester.

United Way of Weld County also provides support for Meals on Wheels, allowing for home-delivered meals for those in need, Eldergarden, which facilitates adult day-care services, Envision with respite care as well as multiple other services that target at -risk adults in an attempt to prevent worsening health status. Free health screening programs are also facilitated in an attempt to understand care needed and prevent disease.

Without United Way of County’s ongoing assistance, many individuals would be at much higher risk for poor medical access and medical problems.

Dr. Robert J. Janata is a pulmonary and critical-care physician at Banner Health in Greeley.