First Chronic Care Clinic Orientation in Tacoma
One of my proudest Rotary moments was years ago when a visiting Rotarian from Mazatlan spoke from the lectern and thanked my Rotary Club for a huge donation of medical equipment to his city. My fellow members had all assumed it would make a difference in health care, which is why we helped chairman Kathy Martin of The Martin Firm with the project. The next few words by the Mazatlan Rotarian, however brought tears of pride to my eyes. Our truck load of equipment had not just improved health care in general, but had lowered the infant mortality rate. Rotary was not only improving health and saving lives, but giving life.
The same is now happening here in Tacoma . . . much closer to home. Our new RotaCare Tacoma Free Chronic Care Clinic will soon be improving health and saving lives, but also giving life and hope to many of our neighbors who are the working poor. With our focus on hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes we have a chance to make a difference here in Pierce County. Accu-Chek is donating their meter systems to our clinic, but people with diabetes need to check their glucose levels every day. Test stips for the systems cost a dollar and we are looking for donations to help with the cost. Every dollar donated may give your Pierce County neighbor one more day of life.
Our first orientation was held on August 19th, 2009 at Christ the King, Lutheran Church, the site of our clinic. We had a great turn-out of staff, social workers, nurses and volunteers. Old friendships were renewed and the workings of the clinic were explained.
Betty Miller from St. Joseph Hospital Lab Service, Pastor Peter Mohr of Christ the King Lutheran Church, and Dr. Mary Hoagland-Scher of Group Health Cooperative and our clinic medical director.
Bob McBeth, chair of RotaCare of Puget Sound, explained the history of RotaCare from its roots in the Bay area to King County and now Pierce County. (Note the box on the far right. It contained health conscious peaches for everyone to eat instead of sugar-laden cake to celebrate.)
Beth Elliott, Executive Director of FISH Food Banks, tells of the goals of not only feeding the hungry, but the need for developing partnerships to improve the health of our neighbors.
We had a nice sized crowd. Virtually, the only empty chair was vacated by Beth as she spoke from the lectern.
Dr. Mary Hoagland-Scher, our clinic medical director, spoke about the clinic and our need for medical volunteers.
After the speeches the crowd was broken into groups of social workers and healthcare workers, but there was much movement between the two.
Beth Elliott and Mike Mowat chat as Mike stands "at ease." Mike is a super volunteer, a member of Exchange Club of Tacoma, and husband of our facility director, Jan Runbeck.
Near the back of the room, Kathleen Merryman of The News Tribune and Dr. Anthony Chen, head of the Tacoma-Pierce County Heath Department chat about the clinic and local health issues.
Here is the best photo of facility director Jan Runbeck. Jan is always in motion.
Rotacare Tacoma is a project of The Rotary Club of Tacoma #8 and The Rotary Clubs of Pierce County.
- Rotacare Tacoma
C/O The Rotary Club of Tacoma #8
P.O. Box 1777, Tacoma, WA 98401-1777
253-370-3988
