Healthcare Access Program (HAP)

Neighborhood Health Clinic

NHC computer.JPG

The Healthcare Access Program (HAP) is a collaboration aimed at strengthening Allen County’s "safety net" of healthcare providers who serve the most vulnerable in our community. The Mission of HAP is to convene local low-cost, no-cost primary healthcare providers to serve as a Center of Excellence organizing and administering projects that increase quality and efficiency and reduce the cost of healthcare for the poor and uninsured in Allen County. Members of the collaboration include:
  • Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health
  • Fort Wayne Medical Education Program – Family Practice Clinic
  • Matthew 25 Health & Dental Clinic
  • Neighborhood Health Clinic
  • Parkview Health System
  • Parkview Community Benefit Program
  • St. Joseph Hospital – Emergency Dept.
  • Lutheran Health Network
  • St. Joseph Community Health Foundation

The Foundation serves as convener, fiscal sponsor, and a major donor to this important effort.

Shared Electronic Medical Records

The Foundation, together with other partners in the community, has funded the installation of electronic medical record systems in each of the local "safety net" health clinics represented in the collaboration. Furthermore, in 2005, the HAP partners established a network to enable doctors and nurses to access other HAP clinics’ medical record on a patient that they are treating to improve the overall quality and efficiency of each individual’s health care. The Program continues today with pilot programs also linking the hospital emergency departments and the St. Joseph Medical Center Labor and Delivery Department. The "Grantmakers - in- Health" newsletter recently highlighted the work of the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation on Health Information Technology and its implementation through HAP (see page 6):
“Health Information Technology: Increasing Quality and Access within Safety Net Providers”

For more information on the Healthcare Access Program, please contact Meg Distler at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .