Community
Benefit
Programs
& Services
Meeting our Community’s Needs —
That’s Important!
E ach year, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center provides a host of innovative
and impactful community benefit programs and services, as well as free or
discounted health care and medical services, to underserved and underinsured
East Bay residents. We are pleased to present to you this community report
highlighting this essential component of Alta Bates Summit’s 100-year tradition
of commitment and service in healthcare.
Alta Bates Summit’s more than 120 community benefit programs and activities
are designed to:
N Meet the specific health care needs of targeted populations
N Expand the availability of heath care to those who need it most
N Provide robust health information and education resources
N Offer financial support to increase community clinic outreach
N Teach participants about healthy lifestyles and the importance of staying healthy
The success of these programs is a direct result of the medical center’s collaboration
with more than 200 community organizations. Together with these partners, we
develop effective programs, maximize the impact of these programs and ensure
that we meet the needs of our community.
In the following pages, we would like to introduce to you six people touched by
our community benefit programs. These participants had a specific health need
met by one of our dynamic programs. They are representative of more than 163,000
individuals served each year through Alta Bates Summit’s innovative outreach.
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
Alta Bates Summit/Children’s Hospital Joint Sickle Cell Program — Provides care to those impacted by Sickle Cell, a genetically
inherited disorder. The program offers a comprehensive approach to inpatient and outpatient medical services and provides for the social
and educational needs of its patients.
Adult Asthma Education — Teaches patients to understand asthma, medication and self-management through a monthly, three-hour
educational program.
Arthritis Support Group — In conjunction with the Arthritis Foundation, Rehabilitation Services offers free, monthly support and
educational programs to the community.
Asian Outreach Program — Provides access to health services by providing culturally appropriate health education and outreach
programs to the Asian community, including medical center patients and families.
Asthma Resource Center — Offers proactive asthma care, medicine and education.
Breast Navigator Program —
Guiding Women with Breast Cancer
A diagnosis of breast cancer calls for sudden decision making,
learning an overwhelming amount of new information, new
concepts, and unfamiliar medical language. Few people can think
clearly when experiencing strong emotions such as anxiety, fear,
sorrow, or anger. Yet the time to make important decisions is usually
right after diagnosis, when these emotions may be most difficult
to handle.
The Alta Bates Summit Breast Navigator Program offers personal
guides to newly diagnosed women, providing education, support
and coordination. When a woman discovers she has breast cancer,
she is quickly matched with a volunteer navigator – a breast cancer
survivor who had a similar type of cancer. The navigator helps the
new patient learn as much as possible about the disease, understand
medical terminology, and to concentrate on wellness strategies.
The program also advocates for culturally appropriate and
supportive care for women with breast cancer and their families
as well as locates medical and emotional support resources to
help women understand their treatment plan.
“When I heard the word cancer I was really frightened.
I have a husband and three children. How was I
going to take care of them? Dr. Bailey referred me
to Marta, from the Breast Navigator Program.
I talked to her often and that helped a lot.”
—Martha
Breast Navigator Program Participant
Community Benefit Activities
Berkeley Primary Care Access Clinic/Lifelong Inc. — The clinic provides primary and prenatal care to uninsured and underinsured
patients. Alta Bates Summit provides cash and in-kind supplies and purchased services, including rent-free space.
Breast Feeding Support Program — Offers lactation support in the hospital (and out-patient by appointment), participation on the
Alameda County Breastfeeding Task Force and cooperative endeavors with Berkeley WIC program.
Breast Health Access for Women with Disabilities — A comprehensive breast health access program, providing accessible early breast
cancer screening and detection for women with sensory, physical and cognitive disabilities. Also provides educational outreach, conducts
research and serves as an advocate for policy related issues. Services are free to disabled Alameda and Contra Costa County women.
Breast Navigator Program — Provides newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with a personal guide to help her through the treatment
process.
Ethnic Health Institute —
Charting a New Course for Underserved Populations
T hroughout the East Bay, underserved ethnic populations
experience disparities in healthcare and disease. Members
of these communities have an increased incidence of chronic
disease and decreased access to health care services. To help
address this situation, Alta Bates Summit founded the Ethnic
Health Institute (EHI) in 1997 to deliver health education,
research, health-provider training, and community outreach to
underserved ethnic populations.
The Alta Bates Summit Ethnic Health Institute features an active
network of 150 volunteer health partners that include public,
private, academic, religious, and community-based organizations
and institutions as well as individual health practitioners. This
extensive collaboration helps EHI open new communication
channels with and between consumers and healthcare profession-
als, and enables EHI to design attitude-changing interventions,
promote healthy lifestyles and respect for cultural beliefs, and
raise awareness about health issues.
EHI emphasizes community education and capacity-building,
disease prevention, screening, and early detection in four major
chronic disease areas: Asthma, Cancer, Cardio/Cerebral Vascular
Disease, and Diabetes. Annually, EHI designs and implements a
variety of screening, outreach and educational projects.
Getting health messages out in churches and senior centers
are Community Health Advisors who volunteer their time teach-
“By teaching health and wellness, I’m making ing classes that emphasize healthy eating habits, exercise and
a difference in people’s lives.”
stress reduction.
—Alfred
Ethnic Health Institute
Community Health Advisor (volunteer)
Comprehensive Cancer Center — Offers free support groups and outreach including:
Cancer Center Breast Cancer Support Group — For women recently diagnosed and receiving treatment for breast cancer.
Cancer Center Chemotherapy Orientation — Orientation provides information on chemotherapy treatment to patients and family.
Cancer Center Guided Relaxation and Visualization — An innovative approach to reducing stress and anxiety and creating
positive, life-affirming images.
Cancer Center Healing Yoga — Drop-in class that teaches a series of gentle movements to release stress.
Cancer Center Look-Good Feel Better Program — Bi-monthly session for women with cancer, co-sponsored by the Comprehensive
Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society. Cosmetologists and wig consultants demonstrate ways to cope with appearance
and other physical changes due to cancer treatment.
Cash Donations and Sponsorships — Alta Bates Summit contributes more than $1.2 million dollars annually to local agencies
and organizations.
East Bay AIDS Center (EBAC) –
Providing Caring Support and Treatment to
People Living with HIV and AIDS
A s the incidence of HIV and AIDS continues to rise and
resources for prevention and treatment continues to fall,
vulnerable populations need a place to go for prevention educa-
tion, treatment and services. Founded in 1987, the East Bay AIDS
Center provides comprehensive primary medical care, hands-on
support, complementary therapies, and educational services to
men, women and youth living with HIV and AIDS regardless
of their health, economic or social status. The program is led
by a multidisciplinary team of caring professionals, offering com-
prehensive services throughout the continuum of HIV disease.
EBAC staff members are sensitive and dedicated to caring for
people of all sexual orientations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
The program has staff on site from several community-based
agencies to facilitate access to the numerous services available
to people living with HIV and AIDS.
HIV and AIDS are a continuing problem among East Bay youth.
In some adolescent circles, HIV and AIDS is part of the counter-
culture and disassociated from HIV+ adults. Without youth-
“As a participant in the community benefit program
oriented clinics, young people had nowhere to turn for help, and EBAC patient, I feel that I can be assured that
support or treatment. So in 1997, EBAC opened the Downtown I receive excellent medical care as well as access
Youth Clinic (DYC) to give kids affected by HIV a place to go for to highly trained nurses, social workers, and
help and education, empowering them to help stop the spread of therapists. Additionally, I have access
the disease. DYC serves more than 700 youth annually. to on-going HIV clinical trials.”
—Bob
EBAC Patient
Chaplaincy Program — Hosts a number of community benefit programs and services including: After-School Program, Chaplaincy
Bereavement Group and Chaplaincy Program Police Department Youth Services.
Clinical Lab Tuition Reimbursement — Tuition reimbursement for medical technologist professional education.
Code C Prescription Program — Free discharge prescription program.
Diabetes Center — A comprehensive diabetes education program designed to assist patients with diabetes to optimize their health
through self-management education and support in a variety of individualized and group settings.
Diabetes Support Groups — Free support group for people with Type I & II diabetes and for large-sized women with diabetes.
Disabled Community Clinic — The clinic focuses on fostering independence within the disabled community, emphasizing outpatient
delivery of care and enabling access to needed sub-specialties. Service is provided regardless of the patient’s ability to pay.
East Bay AIDS Center —Provides a comprehensive program of HIV care and access to clinical trials as well as consultation and support
services throughout the continuum of HIV disease.
Regional Stroke Center Outreach —
Fighting Stroke through Awareness
A s the third leading cause of death in our country, stroke
is a national and local epidemic:
N Every 45 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke
N Every 3 minutes, someone dies from a stroke
N Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability
N In Oakland and Berkeley, the stroke death rate is higher than
the national average
Through our Stroke Center Community Outreach, Alta Bates
Summit Medical Center provides health education, research, health-
provider training, and outreach, with a special focus on underserved
and minority populations. We partner with public and private
healthcare institutions, academic health programs, health insurers
and practitioners, community-based organizations, and community
leaders to share stroke awareness and prevention information
throughout the East Bay region. We have educated more than
10,000 community members about stroke risk factors, and signs and
symptoms in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean.
For stroke victims, support is essential to recovery so our
Regional Stroke Center offers free support groups. These groups
“I’m alive today thanks to Alta Bates Summit stroke include our Stroke Support Group, Aphasia Group, Support
education materials. I learned the warning signs of Group for Younger Adults with Stroke, and Rehabilitation Action
a stroke, so when I was having one, I recognized it Program (RAP). Through these groups inpatients and current
and was able to get to hospital in time.” and former outpatients share ideas and problem-solve ways to
—Leatrice
Recipient of stroke education materials make life after a stroke more enjoyable.
Alta Bates Summit Perinatal Center — Provides high and low risk prenatal services to the underserved.
Ethnic Health Institute — Provides community outreach, education and coalition building around chronic disease prevention and
health promotion for underserved and minority populations. Some of EHI’s initiatives include:
Ethnic Health Institute Prostate Cancer Initiative — Provides outreach, screening education to African American men in
Alameda County that promotes early detection of prostate cancer.
Ethnic Health Institute/Oakland Berkeley Asthma Partnership —Improves the health of children with asthma by reducing
exposure to environmental allergens and irritants that can trigger asthma symptoms. The partnership works with middle schools
in inner city communities of West and East Oakland and West and South Berkeley to create “asthma-friendly” environments through
education, access to resources and policy change.
Family Resource Center —Provides health information and resources to community members and visitors.
Fibromyalgia Support Group — Support group for people with Fibromyalgia.
Youth Bridge —
Giving At-Risk Youth a Chance
E ast Bay inner city youth face multiple dangers in today’s
world, including violence, drug use, delinquency, and teen
pregnancy. Many youth have little or no support from parents and
relatives and are dropping out of high school at an alarming rate.
In recent years, almost 50% of Oakland’s high school students
drop out in the 9th grade.
To help meet the needs of these adolescents, Alta Bates Summit
established the Youth Bridge career development program in
1990. Youth Bridge is a unique mentoring and internship program
that offers life-changing opportunities for at-risk youth who are
primarily African American, Latino and Asian American between
12 and 20 years old. The program enables students to be success-
ful in middle school, complete high school, gain meaningful
employment experience, learn about health-related careers, and
pursue further academic and vocational education.
Youth Bridge includes academic instruction in job-readiness and
health-related careers, nurturing mentoring opportunities with
professionals, paid summer internships within Alta Bates Summit
Medical Center, and at key sites in the community, a middle
school summer camp, leadership building, and community service.
Youth Bridge has served more than 750 youth, the vast majority
of whom have found success:
“Thanks to Youth Bridge, I graduated from high school
N 99% have completed high school and now work for Alta Bates Summit. I plan to go
N 80% have continued on to higher academic or to Samuel Merritt College to become a nurse.”
—Jazmin
vocational education Youth Bridge graduate
N Teen parents have experienced distinct improvement
in their life-skills and long-term goals
Health Access Program — Provides a variety of community health education programs and events, geared primarily to older adults,
including various lectures and screenings. Activities include:
Health Access Collaboration on Senior Injury Prevention — Health Access hosts the Senior Injury Prevention bi-annual talk at the
medical center and helps plan the annual Senior Injury Prevention Partnership of Alameda County Conference. Health Access hosts
monthly meetings for the planning committee and also meets monthly with the larger, SIPP collaboration.
Health Access Screenings — Provides a number of health screenings, including blood pressure screenings, cholesterol, hearing and
bone density screenings.
Health Access Senior Driving Classes — A refresher driving course for older adults.
Health Ministry Parish Nurse Program — The Health Ministry Parish Nurse Program develops and supports health ministries in
congregations and the communities they serve. The program helps to identify health problems among congregation members and assists
in locating and/or providing health care to those in need. Parish nurses work with congregations to provide such basic health care services
as blood pressure and blood glucose screenings, health counseling, support groups, referrals and health information.
Health Science Libraries — Resource center for health care professionals that is open to the community.
Asthma Resource Center —
Preventing Asthma Emergencies
A sthma hits the Alameda County population hard, particularly
those living along the busy I-880 and I-80 corridors. The
daily barrage of diesel exhaust and dust triggers asthma attacks
among the highway’s many uninsured neighbors, many of
whom visit the Alta Bates Summit Emergency Departments for
ongoing treatment.
Alameda County asthma hospitalization rates (in every demographic
group) are the second highest among the State’s 58 counties. These
high rates of asthma hospitalization demonstrate the need for early
intervention and preventive care. To provide proactive asthma care
while reducing the need for Emergency Department visits and hos-
pital stays, Alta Bates Summit founded the Asthma Resource Center
(ARC) in 2000 to:
N Contact all at-risk asthma patients who come to the Emergency
Department to identify those who would benefit from the
clinic’s services
N Encourage patients to come in to the ARC for education
and medicine
“The Asthma Resource Center helped me to control N Facilitate access to clinics that offer free or low-cost care
my asthma by teaching me how to manage it”
—Gurett N Provide a fanny pack with a spacer tube and a peak-flow
Asthma Resource Center participant meter and a one-month supply of medicine to those who
are uninsured
N Train asthma patients on appropriate use of medicine
N Collaborate with local health clinics to develop stronger
programs that help reduce emergency visits and provide
information about asthma for early intervention.
Independent Gym Program — A gym workout program with 50% discounts to Medicare-eligible members.
Infant Follow-Up Program — Provides developmental diagnostic follow-up services to infants discharged from the NICU. Diagnostic
services include developmental history, psychosocial assessment, neuro-developmental and physical examination by nurses, a child
psychologist and physician, and referral to community resources for on-going developmental interventions.
Labor and Delivery Parent Education/Childbirth Education Program — Classes and lectures designed to prepare expectant parents.
Classes include: Preparation for Childbirth, Infant Care and Breastfeeding, Coping with Labor, as well as tours of the Birth Center.
Markstein Cancer Center — The center is dedicated to decreasing the incidence of cancer through early detection and outreach and the
improvement of quality of life for those with cancer. Markstein offers a numbers of services including the following:
Mammography Screenings (Women 40+) — Provides free mammograms for uninsured women 40-49.
Prostate Cancer Screenings — Community screenings provided for the uninsured.
Sigmoidoscopy Screenings —Sigmoidoscopy screening can detect pre-cancerous conditions and further treatment can actually
prevent a cancer from developing. These screenings are offered free of charge to the community.
“
W e enhance the health and well-being of people in the communities we serve through
compassion and excellence.”— Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Mission Statement
MPI — MPI is a hospital-based program for alcoholism and drug abuse treatment that offers detoxification, inpatient rehabilitation,
residential rehabilitation, day treatment, and morning and evening intensive outpatient programs. MPI provides several community
outreach and educational activities, including;
MPI Client Escort — Program escorts clients to appointments.
MPI Community Workshops — Community workshops addressing dependency, intervention and treatment issues.
MPI Free Saturday Workshops — Free on-site workshops addressing dependency, intervention and treatment issues.
MPI Substance Abuse Assessment — Assessment and referrals for patients who are unable to meet MPI’s financial admitting criteria.
Neonatal Transport — Provides a clinical team for infant transport from community hospitals to the Alta Bates Summit NICU.
Operation Access — Outpatient services for outpatient surgical procedures offered free of charge to low-income patients.
Parent Share — Support group for parents of infants in the NICU.
Patient Assistance Fund — Funds designated for such things as motel vouchers, ARC equipment, cash for food, transport, and lab tests.
Collaborative Partners
—The following is a partial list of our collaborative partners:
14th Street Clinic Bay Area Black United Fund Cole Middle School
A Safe Place Bay Area Tumor Institute Community Consortium of UCSF
AARP Bayer Corporation Community Health Center Network
AC Transit Bella Vista Elementary Community Resources for
Acts Full Gospel Church Berkeley Chinese Community Church Independent Living
Adult Day Health Network Berkeley High Health Center Contra Costa County Health Services
Adult Protective Services Berkeley Planning Associates Contra Costa County-MSSP
Adult Services Network of Better Health Foundation Department of Health and
Alameda County Blue Cross Human Services
Affiliated Home Calls Blue Shield Developmentally Disabled Health
AIDS Minority Health Initiative (AMHI) Brookins AME Care Task Force
AIDS Project of the East Bay California Bank and Trust Disability Rights Advocates
Alameda Alliance for Health California Children’s Services District 19 PTA
Alameda County Public Health Dept. California Federation for Independent Downs Memorial UMC
Alameda Health Consortium Living Centers East Bay Community Law Center
Alcohol Research Group California Transplant Donor Network East Bay Community Recovery Project
Allen Temple Baptist Church CAL-PEP East Bay Nation of Men
American Cancer Society (ACS) Center for Disability Issues and East Bay Perinatal Medical Associates
American Diabetes Association Health Professions Emeryville Unified School District
American Heart Association Center for Disease Control Family Bridges
American Lung Association Center for Elder’s Independence First AME Church
American Red Cross Center for Independent Living First Baptist Church—Pittsburg
Arthritis Foundation Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice Foundation for Osteoporosis Ed.
Asian Cancer Coalition Central Health Clinic Friends of Oakland Seniors (FOOS)
Asian Community Mental Cerebral Palsey Center Gateway
Health Services Children’s Hospital Oakland Gethsemane Community Church
Asian Health Services Chinatown Merchants and Vendors Glaxco Pharmaceuticals
Association of Asian Pacific Chinese American Physicians’ Society Havenscourt Community Church
Community Health Organizations Chinese Presbyterian Church Hawkins Center
Asthma Start Program Church by the Side of the Road Health in Common
Aventis Pharmaceuticals Citizens for West Oakland Revitalization Health Insurance Counseling
BART City of Berkeley Dept. of Health and and Advocacy
Bay Area Black Nurses Human Services Hill & Co. Health Sunday Program
Regional Behavioral Health Outreach — Provides a myriad of psychiatric services to adolescents, adults and seniors, including risk
assessments, information and resources free to the community.
Regional Stroke Center Outreach Initiative — Community outreach and education aimed at stroke awareness and prevention.
Samuel Merritt College — Provides a number of community services including:
Institutional Scholarship Program — Academic and need-based scholarships to attend Samuel Merritt College.
Samuel Merritt College Scholars in Service Program — Provides scholarships and programmatic assistance for
underrepresented students.
Samuel Merritt Occupational Therapy Free Clinic —Provides intervention, health maintenance and consultation.
Social Services Home Health Services — Assists terminally ill patients with supplementary home health care.
Social Services Medication and Equipment Donation — Social services department provides medication and equipment to
low-income residents.
Hill Physician Medical Group Oakland Kicks Asthma Sinkler Miller Medical Association
Hoover Elementary School Oakland School District Solvoy Pharmaceuticals
Hospital Council of Northern and Oakland Tech. High School Spectrum Community Services
Central California Health Academy St. Augustine Episcopal Church
IMPACT/UCSF Oakland Unified School District St. Columba Catholic Church
In Balance Health Care Older Women’s League (OWL) St. Luke’s Society
James Madison Middle School Orinda Country Club St. Mary’s Center
Jewish Family and Children’s Services OrthoBiotech Pharmaceuticals St. Patrick Catholic Church
of the East Bay Pacific Care Behavioral St.Paul’s Towers
Kaitz Property Services Pacific Center for Human Growth Taylor Memorial UMC
Knights of Malta Parks Chapel AME Church The Asian Liver Center at
La Clinica de la Raza Partners in Care of Alameda County Stanford University
Lake Merritt UMC Pediatric Medical Associates The Better Health Foundation
Legal Assistance for Seniors (LAS) PediatriCare The Center for AIDS Services
Leukemia Society Perinatal Network of Alameda The Family of Women
Liberty Hill Baptist and Contra Costa Co. Through the Looking Glass
Lifelong, Inc. Pfizer University of California, Berkeley
Linkages PG&E United Seniors
Longshoremen’s Union Post Polio Network University of California, San Francisco
Lowe’s Home Improvement Center Public Health Institute Urban Habitat
Market Street Seventh Day Regional Asthma Management US Dept. of Health and Human Services
Adventist Church and Prevention Initiative Veterans Administration.
Medtronics Regional Asthma Management Program Vietnamese Health Promotion
Merck Pharmaceuticals Regional Center of the East Bay Project-UCSF
National Arthritis Foundation Resurrection Lutheran Church Women Organized to Respond to
Native American Health Center Roosevelt Middle School Health Center Life Threatening Diseases
Northern CA Behavioral Health Rubicon Care Home Consortium Wa Sung Service Club
Northern CA Cancer Center Safe Passages West Oakland Asthma Coalition
Northern CA Multiple Sclerosis Society San Antonio Clinic West Oakland Health Center
Oakland Chinatown Chamber San Francisco MUNI West Oakland Senior
of Commerce Sexual Minority Alliance of Citizens Roundtable
Oakland Coalition of Congregations Alameda County Western University of Health Science
Oakland Housing Authority Sickle Cell Community Health Network YMCA
of Northern California
Social Services Shelter Voucher — Provides short-term housing assistance for patients who are homeless with medical needs.
Also provides transportation as needed, free of charge.
Stroke Support Group — For stroke survivors, family and friends.
Support After Neonatal Death (SAND) — Provides support for parents who experience fetal or neonatal death. Support services
include helping parents cope with death, arranging burial services and scheduling on-going support and counseling. This group support
and counseling is also available for parents who have delivered at other area hospitals.
Tele-Care — A free telephone program that provides daily reassurance calls to elderly, frail or isolated and homebound individuals
in Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties.
Thunder Road — Thunder Road assists youth struggling with problems related to the abuse of drugs, alcohol, nicotine and other
behavioral health conditions, helps them overcome those problems to become functioning members of their respective communities.
Youth Bridge — A career development program for East Bay youth.
Alta Bates Campus #847-BP-112707
2450 Ashby Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94705
Herrick Campus
2001 Dwight Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
Summit Campus
350 Hawthorne Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Oakland, CA
Permit # 3413