Thanking Dr. Jennifer Lyons and Oregon Eye Specialists
Dr. Jennifer Lyons, ophthalmologist with Oregon Eye Specialists transitioned into the Project Access system from volunteering with the Coalition of Community Health Clinics. “It’s easy,” she said about her participation. “Project Access patients come pre-screened, all the paperwork is taken care of, I don’t have to go to another location. I can just do my job.”
As a specialty physician, Dr. Lyons recognizes everyone sees uninsured or underinsured patients, but she wishes more doctors would participate in Project Access NOW. She said, “When it comes to working with Project Access NOW, it’s a cinch. They set everything up, give me a one-page form with all the information I need, and I just do what I do.”
Dr. Lyons recounted a story of a diabetic patient who would have ended up blind had she not undergone laser surgery facilitated by Project Access NOW. According to Dr. Lyons, “All the patients are thankful.” What’s more, “Project Access patients are the cheapest free patients we see. I don’t have to do anything on the back end. I haven’t had a single no-show.”
Like many other ophthalmologists, Dr. Lyons has done work abroad, in Mexico and El Salvador, to treat cataracts. She has found, however, that her long-term mission is taking care of patients here. “There are many people here who have the same problem,” she said, “and with the insurance situation getting worse, health is getting worse. There’s just as much need here as elsewhere. Project Access allows me to spread my charitable work throughout the whole year.”
To doctors who don’t know about Project Access NOW or are thinking about joining, Dr. Lyons said, “Call me if you have questions about participating in the program.” Her phone number is 503.231.0166.
