About Us
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- Last Updated: Thursday, 04 March 2021 22:17
History
The city of Norfolk was one of 41 communities nationwide to receive a Turning Point grant from the Kellogg Foundation in 1999. The Norfolk Turning Point Planning Initiative was part of a national effort to change and strengthen the ways in which states and local communities protect and improve public health. Key stakeholders began collaborating to improve access to health care and medications/pharmaceuticals. In 2004, Sentara Foundation commissioned Community Health Solutions to perform a Community Health Survey which revealed the need for improved access to basic health care, specialty care, mental/behavioral health and dental care. Access Partnership was formally established as a direct result of the Turning Point Iniative and Sentara Community Health Survey to bring together community stakeholders committed to securing resources and mobilizing efforts to eliminate major gaps in health care for Hampton Roads' uninsured and under-insured residents.
Previous Programs & Initiatives
2004-2008: The Pharmacy Care of Hampton Roads (PCHR), a central-fill pharmacy funded by HCAP was developed by Access Partnership and the Peninsula Institute for Community Health (PICH) and provided 30 to 90-day supplies of select generic medications to financially qualified patients of local community health centers and free clinics.
2005-2015: The Community Access to Care program, based on the Project Access® model, provided access to diagnostic and specialty care at free or reduced rates to financially eligible adults in Greater Hampton Roads. Access Partnership in collaboration with Optima Health and The Peninsula Institute for Community Health (PICH) enrolled 1000 eligible patients per year and recruited ~289 specialty providers to participate.
2005-2016: Access Partnership served as fiscal agent and provided leadership and administrative services for the The Oral Health Improvement Coalition of South Hampton Roads (OHICSHR).
2007: Access Partnership served as community organizer and fiscal agent for the development of a Federally Qualified Community Health Center (FQHC) in Virginia Beach, which opened in 2007 and continues to serve the community today.
2009-2019: Access Partnership provided promotion, recruitment of volunteers and patients, resource connection and functioned as fiscal agent and fundraiser for numerous Dental Outreaches including Oral Health Screenings, Senior Saturdays, Dental Access Days and Missions of Mercy held throughout Hampton Roads in collaboration with Dental Associations, private dentists, clinics and other organizations.
2010-2020: The Dental Access Help Line was implemented by Access Partnership to assist callers in need of dental care by connecting to the dental safety net, outreaches, and dental programs. An average of 1,500 callers were assisted annually.
2014-2020: Oral Health 757 newsletters were released quarterly to communicate oral health news and resources to the dental and medical professionals and others interested in improving access to oral health.
2012-2020: Access Partnership was the first community organization to manage the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program at the local level. Access Partnership connected eligible applicants to volunteer dentists in Hampton Roads and Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Virginia Dental Association Foundation manages the DDS program for Virginia. Visit
Current Programs
The Donated Medical Supplies & Equipment program accepts new and gently used items which are gifted to organizations and individuals in need. Collaboration with F.R.E.E., CATS, Virginia Reuse Network and EVMS REMEDY Club improves access to needed items. Supplies and equipment that is unable to be utilized in our communities is offered to mission groups for humanitarian efforts abroad, keeping tons of would-be waste out of our landfills.
Healthy Chesapeake’s HUB is a diabetes and hypertension support program available to residents of Chesapeake or patients of PCPs located in Chesapeake. Access Partnership provides staff support at clinics, provides educational materials and medical supplies and equipment to HUB participants, educates case managers, social workers and providers regarding the program to recruit additional participants, and connects staff, providers and patients to needed resources.
Noteworthy News electronic emails are released weekly to share news, events and resources related to health access. Over 1,450 subscribers are on our listserv.
Health Resource Connection services are provided to members of the community as well as medical and dental providers, departments of health and social services, health insurance staff and other organizations and agencies in need of assistance in locating health care resources.
Contact Us
Telephone: (757) 502-7400
- General Inquiries - press 0
- Donated Supply & Equipment Program – Ext 3 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Executive Director - Ext. 7 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fax: 1-866- 231-0196
Postal Mail: 1616 Centerville Turnpike, Suite 212, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
