Greater Spokane Inc.: CHAS Health Continues Commitment To Access And Equity

Press release from Greater Spokane Inc.:

November 2, 2021

By Aaron Wilson, CEO, CHAS Health

The COVID-19 pandemic tested all of us to innovate and grow
in different ways. At CHAS Health that meant finding new ways to ensure access
to healthcare services remained available to those most vulnerable in our
community. It meant trying something different and then trying it again based
on what we had learned and ever-changing guidance. It meant working together,
staying the course, and remaining focused on our mission to serve our
community.

Early in the pandemic, it became evident that COVID-19
testing was not available at the level needed for our community to fight the
virus. CHAS Health made a commitment to provide testing access to everyone, with
more than 62,000 tests administered to date. That meant staff working in
parking lot tents and trailers, at homeless shelters, and at the homes of those
too nervous to leave for testing. 

The same access issues are true for COVID-19 vaccines. We
again provided access, from large-scale vaccination locations to pop-up clinics
for people who struggled to get access. To date, we have vaccinated more than
40,000 members of our community against COVID-19. We knew that these efforts
were necessary and vital, that those most vulnerable for complications from
COVID-19 were also those least likely to have ready access to testing and care.
CHAS Health is committed to access and equity in healthcare for every member of
our community. It is a cornerstone of who we are and has been since our
founding in 1994. During the pandemic, the fact that access is a significant
barrier for those most in need was visible on every level. Housing, technology,
transportation, education, and language barriers directly impact people’s
ability to care for themselves and their families. If there was any silver
lining of COVID-19, it is increased awareness that these social determinants of
health directly impact the health of our neighbors and community. We are all
interconnected, and we have a responsibility to ensure that every member of our
community has access to the resources they need to not just survive but thrive.
It is vital to the overall health of our economy and of our region.

As we move to the “next normal,”
CHAS Health will continue to focus on meeting those most in need where they
are. Providing access, dignity, and equity for every person in our community
and working toward the goal of a healthier community, one neighborhood at a
time. 

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This press release was produced by Greater Spokane Inc.. The views expressed here are the author’s own.