Public Health Heroes Awards Ceremony

San Francisco Free Clinic, for its work providing health care services to uninsured patients who do not qualify for federal or state aid.

In an era of HMOs, the San Francisco Free Clinic, opened in 1994 by family physicians Patricia and Richard Gibbs, serves a vital community need: The clinic provides medical care to people who lack health insurance. Many of the patients are “working poor,” or people who are employed and do not qualify for federal or state medical aid, but do not have health coverage. The majority of clinic users fall below the federal poverty line, and without the clinic, would not have access to basic primary and preventative care.

The San Francisco Free Clinic accommodated nearly 7,000 patient visits in 2005, and has expanded its hours and facilities since its inception. The clinic is supported by donations from both the philanthropic and medical communities. Physicians donate consultations and medical supplies; area hospitals donate x-rays and imaging studies. All clinic personnel work with patients, perform administrative work, and participate in fundraising, which means that all dollars raised go directly into patient care. The clinic also trains young physicians and students in primary care from University of California, San Francisco, Yale School of Medicine, University of Southern California, and other medical schools.

Tricia Hellman Gibbs, M.D. and Richard Gibbs, M.D., met at Yale Medical School, married, and completed post-graduate medical training at the University of Washington. They opened a private family medical practice, but after recognizing the dire need for medical care for the uninsured, they founded the San Francisco Free Clinic.

AWARD PRESENTER Warren Hellman

Warren Hellman, a major benefactor of the San Francisco Free Clinic, is renowned for his philanthropic contributions to the community. After becoming the youngest partner at the firm Lehman Brothers, Hellman, a Berkeley alumnus, left to start Hellman & Friedman LLC, a private equity investment firm. Since its founding in 1984, the firm has grown into one of the top 100 private equity funds in the country. Hellman has made it a priority to support a variety of institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area. His many contributions to UC Berkeley include funding for sports, the sciences and business; service on the Walter A. Haas School of Business advisory board; and the establishment of the Hellman Family Faculty Fund in 1995, which offers funding for exceptional assistant professors. Hellman has served as a trustee of the San Francisco Foundation and has supported the city's symphony, ballet, and opera. He is the father of four children, including Tricia Hellman Gibbs.

THE CHALLENGE Making Quality Health Care Available to All

For many Americans, a routine visit to a physician poses a significant economic hardship, and a serious injury or illness could mean financial disaster. The number of people who are uninsured is rising annually, and in 2004 more than 45 million people had no health insurance. Many of these people are employed, and do not qualify for government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Those with insurance are also feeling the strain of rising health care costs, and families pay an average of $1000 more just for health insurance premiums than they did five years ago. About 28 percent of insured and uninsured adults were unable to pay for some form of medical care in the past year. Patients unable to seek further treatment for medical problems go without prescription drugs or allow medical bills to go unpaid. Many Americans do not receive adequate care for treatable illnesses, and often further compromise health because of late diagnosis. In addition to access to care, patients must receive reliable, effective, and up-to-date information about how to manage health problems, especially chronic conditions. Some researchers estimate that asthma, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and depression account for three quarters of all health care costs. Quality care for chronic illness remains an urgent need, and medical providers must employ innovative and proactive strategies to control costs, improve technology, and most importantly, give patients the tools to lead long and active lives.

THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONDS

The crisis of inadequate affordable health care requires multiple solutions, and so the School is addressing this problem on a number of fronts. From evaluating quality of care, to advising on health care policy, to examining ways to provide care in the most cost-effective ways, the School has played a major role in health policy reform. Some projects include:

Researchers at the Nicholas C. Petris Center on Health Care Markets and Consumer Welfare have evaluated the impact of a number of healthcare policies. One study provided new data on the number of people who lack insurance and access to affordable prescription drugs.
As part of the California Health Benefits Review Program, researchers at the School advise policy makers on the potential impacts of legislation through detailed analyses.
Faculty in the Division of Health Policy and Management have played an important role in the development of incentive programs designed to help health care providers improve the quality of care. Faculty have also measured the performance of medical groups and determined the factors that lead to high-quality, cost-effective care for chronic illness.
The School of Public Health, the Public Health Institute, and the California Endowment are organizing a health summit for leaders from the public and private sectors to develop an action plan to improve the health system and health outcomes.


2006 Organizational Hero - San Francisco Free Clinic		Related Links San Francisco Free Clinic Tricia Hellman Gibbs and Richard Gibbs
San Francisco Free Clinic, for its work providing health care services to uninsured patients who do not qualify for federal or state aid. In an era of HMOs, the San Francisco Free Clinic, opened in 1994 by family physicians Patricia and Richard Gibbs, serves a vital community need: The clinic provides medical care to people who lack health insurance. Many of the patients are “working poor,” or people who are employed and do not qualify for federal or state medical aid, but do not have health coverage. The majority of clinic users fall below the federal poverty line, and without the clinic, would not have access to basic primary and preventative care. The San Francisco Free Clinic accommodated nearly 7,000 patient visits in 2005, and has expanded its hours and facilities since its inception. The clinic is supported by donations from both the philanthropic and medical communities. Physicians donate consultations and medical supplies; area hospitals donate x-rays and imaging studies. All clinic personnel work with patients, perform administrative work, and participate in fundraising, which means that all dollars raised go directly into patient care. The clinic also trains young physicians and students in primary care from University of California, San Francisco, Yale School of Medicine, University of Southern California, and other medical schools. Tricia Hellman Gibbs, M.D. and Richard Gibbs, M.D., met at Yale Medical School, married, and completed post-graduate medical training at the University of Washington. They opened a private family medical practice, but after recognizing the dire need for medical care for the uninsured, they founded the San Francisco Free Clinic. AWARD PRESENTER Warren Hellman Warren Hellman, a major benefactor of the San Francisco Free Clinic, is renowned for his philanthropic contributions to the community. After becoming the youngest partner at the firm Lehman Brothers, Hellman, a Berkeley alumnus, left to start Hellman & Friedman LLC, a private equity investment firm. Since its founding in 1984, the firm has grown into one of the top 100 private equity funds in the country. Hellman has made it a priority to support a variety of institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area. His many contributions to UC Berkeley include funding for sports, the sciences and business; service on the Walter A. Haas School of Business advisory board; and the establishment of the Hellman Family Faculty Fund in 1995, which offers funding for exceptional assistant professors. Hellman has served as a trustee of the San Francisco Foundation and has supported the city's symphony, ballet, and opera. He is the father of four children, including Tricia Hellman Gibbs. THE CHALLENGE Making Quality Health Care Available to All For many Americans, a routine visit to a physician poses a significant economic hardship, and a serious injury or illness could mean financial disaster. The number of people who are uninsured is rising annually, and in 2004 more than 45 million people had no health insurance. Many of these people are employed, and do not qualify for government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Those with insurance are also feeling the strain of rising health care costs, and families pay an average of $1000 more just for health insurance premiums than they did five years ago. About 28 percent of insured and uninsured adults were unable to pay for some form of medical care in the past year. Patients unable to seek further treatment for medical problems go without prescription drugs or allow medical bills to go unpaid. Many Americans do not receive adequate care for treatable illnesses, and often further compromise health because of late diagnosis. In addition to access to care, patients must receive reliable, effective, and up-to-date information about how to manage health problems, especially chronic conditions. Some researchers estimate that asthma, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and depression account for three quarters of all health care costs. Quality care for chronic illness remains an urgent need, and medical providers must employ innovative and proactive strategies to control costs, improve technology, and most importantly, give patients the tools to lead long and active lives. THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONDS The crisis of inadequate affordable health care requires multiple solutions, and so the School is addressing this problem on a number of fronts. From evaluating quality of care, to advising on health care policy, to examining ways to provide care in the most cost-effective ways, the School has played a major role in health policy reform. Some projects include: Researchers at the Nicholas C. Petris Center on Health Care Markets and Consumer Welfare have evaluated the impact of a number of healthcare policies. One study provided new data on the number of people who lack insurance and access to affordable prescription drugs. As part of the California Health Benefits Review Program, researchers at the School advise policy makers on the potential impacts of legislation through detailed analyses. Faculty in the Division of Health Policy and Management have played an important role in the development of incentive programs designed to help health care providers improve the quality of care. Faculty have also measured the performance of medical groups and determined the factors that lead to high-quality, cost-effective care for chronic illness. The School of Public Health, the Public Health Institute, and the California Endowment are organizing a health summit for leaders from the public and private sectors to develop an action plan to improve the health system and health outcomes.