$100,000 Match Challenge to Boost CentraCare’s Project H.E.A.L. Free Health Care Program in Central Minnesota

(KNSI) – A local foundation is putting up $100,000 to help CentraCare reach people who struggle to get health care on their own.

The David & Janis Larson Foundation has issued a $100,000 matching challenge for CentraCare Foundation’s year-end campaign, with the money going to Project H.E.A.L. The name stands for Health, Education, Access and Link. The program brings free health screenings, basic health assessments, chronic disease support, health education and connections to care directly to people in central Minnesota.

Brittany Pfannenstein, CentraCare’s manager of health equity and community health, oversees Project H.E.A.L. Rather than waiting for patients to walk into a clinic, her team goes out to them.

“An important part of our approach is that we do this work in trusted community settings. So that includes shelters, community organizations, places of worship and other locations where people already have relationships and feel comfortable.”

Pfannenstein said transportation, cost, language barriers or trouble navigating the health care system can all keep someone from getting care. Meeting people where they are helps her team understand those barriers and help patients take the next step.

Donations cover things like health screening supplies, blood pressure monitors and health education materials. The match will also support time for a community paramedic who works at Project H.E.A.L.’s clinics and helps with care coordination. Those clinics are held at Community Outpost locations and local shelters.

In the past year, Project H.E.A.L. recorded more than 1,055 patient encounters, connected 139 people to primary and specialty care, arranged transportation nearly 140 times and helped prevent about 95 unnecessary emergency room visits.

“Behind every number is a person who needed a connection to care. It might be someone who finally establishes care with a primary care provider or someone who gets an appointment that may otherwise have been missed,” said Pfannenstein.

Amy Hanfler, donor engagement director for CentraCare Foundation, explained how the challenge works. Gifts made to the foundation through the end of the year count toward the match, whether donors give to Project H.E.A.L. or another CentraCare initiative they care about. Once the match is met, Project H.E.A.L. receives the full $100,000.

“So it’s a really exciting opportunity for the community to come together and really help take care of our neighbors.”

This is the first year the David & Janis Larson Foundation has backed CentraCare Foundation’s year-end match. Last year’s campaign raised money for medical school scholarships.

Project H.E.A.L. started more than 26 years ago as a partnership between parish nurses at CentraCare-St. Cloud Hospital and the Place of Hope shelter in St. Cloud, offering free care to people without insurance.

The program recently received an award from the Minnesota Hospital Association for its community benefit work. Along with donors, it relies on volunteers and community partners to reach people in need.

Donations can be made through the CentraCare Foundation’s Project H.E.A.L. campaign by clicking here.

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