Shepherds Hope Inc

SHEPHERD'S HOPE PROVIDES MEDICAL CARE TO UNINSURED MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN LIVING IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. FOUNDED IN 1997, THE VISION FOR SHEPHERD'S HOPE FIRST BECAME A REALITY WHEN THE CONGREGATION OF ST. LUKE'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH RESPONDED TO A CALL FROM THEIR PASTOR, DR. WILLIAM S. BARNES, TO HELP THE UNINSURED. MIRACULOUSLY, THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND PIECES ALL CAME TOGETHER, SO THAT IN JUST SIX MONTHS THE FIRST SHEPHERD'S HOPE HEALTH CENTER, STAFFED COMPLETELY BY VOLUNTEERS, OPENED ITS DOORS. WORD QUICKLY SPREAD AND THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING. TODAY, SHEPHERD'S HOPE OPERATES FIVE MEDICAL CENTERS. PATIENTS ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICES HAVE LOW INCOME, ARE UNINSURED, AND DO NOT QUALIFY FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTED HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS. UTILIZING THESE CRITERIA, SHEPHERD'S HOPE HAS PROVIDED MORE THAN 300,000 PATIENT VISITS THESE PAST 24 YEARS AND VOLUNTEERS NUMBER OVER 2,600.

SHEPHERD'S HOPE IS A FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION OF VOLUNTEERS PROVIDING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR THE UNINSURED. HEALTH CENTERS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ACUTE, EPISODIC, NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO SERVE AS A PERMANENT OR PRIMARY MEDICAL HOME FOR PATIENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES FOR WHOM CONTINUITY OF CARE AND LONG-TERM MEDICATION MANAGEMENT ARE ESPECIALLY CRITICAL. DURING 2021, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE 8,083 OFFICE VISITS WITH THE DONATED SUPPORT OF ALL VOLUNTEER MEDICAL STAFF AND DONATED FACILITIES. SHEPHERD'S HOPE OPERATIONS ARE PROPELLED BY OUR VOLUNTEERS ENABLING OUR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS TO REMAIN LOW; 95 CENTS OF EACH DONATED DOLLAR ARE DIRECTLY SPENT ON PATIENT CARE AND SERVICES.DURING 2021 WE RESPONDED TO COMMUNITY NEEDS THAT WERE CREATED BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BY:- IMPLEMENTING TELEHEALTH AND MANAGING OUR RESOURCES TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND REDUCE THE RISKS FOR RESIDENTS WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS HAVING POOR OUTCOMES,- TRIAGING PATIENTS TO OBTAIN COVID-19 TESTING AND COORDINATING PATIENT REFERRALS FOR CONTACT TRACING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND ORGANIZING AND FACILITATING VACCINE DISTRIBUTION,- DISTRIBUTING HEALTHY PRODUCE AND FOOD IN FOOD/HEALTH DESSERTS,- PROVIDING PRIMARY, ACUTE AND SPECIALTY CARE FOR EXISTING AND NEWLY UNINSURED AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS TO ASSIST THEM WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS AND WORKFORCE READY,- REDUCING THE NEGATIVE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON LOCAL HOSPITALS AND DIVERTING PATIENTS FROM HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND PREVENTING UNNECESSARY ACUTE CASES OCCUPYING ICU BEDS, AND- SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY'S PRIMARY GOAL OF SLOWING THE SPREAD OF THE COVID VIRUS BY PROVIDING PPE: MASKS, HAND SANITIZER, CLEANING SUPPLIES, THERMOMETERS, HOME TESTS AND SAFETY AND WELLNESS EDUCATION TO OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.ADDITIONALLY, SHEPHERD'S HOPE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN ALL EMPLOYEES DURING THE PANDEMIC, EVEN INCREASING STAFF BY BRINGING IN ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUCH AS FACILITIES MANAGEMENT.