OPERATION ACCESS - California (hospitals in the Bay area)
Operation Access

What is it?
Operation Access was created in 1993 to mobilize a network of primary care community clinics, participating hospitals, and medical professionals to provide donated outpatient surgical care to uninsured patients. Its founders are two prominent surgeons, who began the program in San Francisco with collaboration from one hospital, seven clinics, and 15 medical volunteers. Operation Access now receives referrals from 60 community clinics throughout six Bay area counties, has 19 participating hospitals, and over 400 surgeons and nurses and other health professionals who volunteer to help uninsured patients. To date, Operation Access has provided over 2,500 surgical services and specialty procedures for the uninsured, and facilitated over $15 million in charity care (medical provider billing charges that were waived). Operation Access is also working with a coalition of health providers in Orange County, Southern California, to replicate the Operation Access model there in order to provide access to surgical care for uninsured people living in Orange County.

Participating hospitals in the Bay area include: Alta Bates Summit Medical Center; California Pacific Medical Center; Endoscopy Center of Marin; John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek; Kaiser Permanente, Fremont; Kaiser Permanente, Hayward; Kaiser Permanente, Oakland; Kaiser Permanente, Redwood City; Kaiser Permanente, Richmond; Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco; Kaiser Permanente, San Rafael; Kaiser Permanente, Santa Rosa; Kaiser Permanente, South San Francisco; Marin General Hospital; Mills-Peninsula Hospital; Novato Community Hospital; San Francisco General Hospital; St. Rose Hospital; and Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

Who is it for?
Uninsured Californians residing in the six county service area.

Why do they do it?
To channel the generosity of doctors and nurses to provide simple yet life-changing treatments to uninsured people who lack access to necessary care.  In creating opportunities for medical professionals and institutions to give back to their communities, within a framework that ensures a high quality standard of care, Operation Access provides a unique referral resource for community clinics to treat the surgical needs of uninsured patients unable to access care through the public safety net. Operation Access services help alleviate the burden on clinics and emergency rooms when medical conditions persist untreated. Operation Access is making a difference by improving access to care for underserved and uninsured people, helping to reduce disparities in the healthcare delivery system and promoting medical volunteerism locally.

Contact: Benjamin Aune
Chief Executive Officer, Operation Access
Telephone: 415-733-0051
Email: ben@operationaccess.org