Join Our Cause
Help us make it easier for clinics to refer, hospitals to receive, and doctors to treat, uninsured people who need specialty care.
“Operation Access is the antidote to the health care delivery bureaucracy; sick patients are identified, referred, and treated with minimal hassle and expense.”
Tim Sowerby, MD
Marin Gastroenterology
We navigate patients from clinics to hospitals and surgery centers, where our volunteers provide them with the care they need.
We tackle the complexities of the health care system and reduce “red tape” to make it easier for clinics to refer, hospitals to receive, and doctors to treat uninsured people who need specialty care.
You can help us provide this care.
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Volunteer as a Physician or Health Care Provider
You can help people in our community get the care they need. It’s so easy! The best part is you get to provide treatment and care right where you work.
As a physician or health care provider volunteer:
you decide how many patients you see
we navigate patients to their appointments with instructions in the patient's language, and we coordinate interpreters for appointments
Over 96% of patients show up on time and ready for their appointments.
As a physician volunteer you will see patients for consult, outpatient procedures, and post-ops. We handle the rest. Physician volunteers need to maintain current malpractice coverage and admitting privileges with one of our partners.
Non-physician medical volunteers—nurses, techs, EVS, and others—provide care at partner hospitals and surgery centers.
Volunteer as a Health Care Navigator
The care and support we provide to our patients are vital, and we need volunteers skilled in cultural humility and interpersonal effectiveness to navigate patients through their care.
Volunteers screen patients for eligibility, remind them of upcoming appointments, process patient referrals, and support the team with other critical care coordination tasks. If you’re ready to make a difference, volunteer with us.
Volunteer as an Interpreter
Interpreters are needed for 85% of appointments we schedule. Most of our patients rely on interpreters fluent in Spanish and English. For all Interpreter Volunteers we’ll provide training and best practices on how to work with our patients and medical volunteers. Once trained, you can choose when and where to volunteer. Plus, we reimburse your travel expenses.
Become a Referring Clinic
Partner referring clinics benefit from prompt access to outpatient specialty and surgical care for uninsured patients.
Outpatient services are donated by our physician volunteers and partner facilities
We support your patients with culturally responsive case management and interpretive services
The approximate wait time for patients to see a specialist is 2 to 6 months (depending on the procedure requested and patient’s ability to travel)
We promote continuity of care by notifying you of referral status and service outcome
Contact us to learn more or request a training for clinic staff.
Become a Partner Hospital or Surgery Center
Participating hospitals and surgery centers benefit from a streamlined pathway for charity care that supports physicians with hands-on care coordination.
Our intensive patient case management ensures high compliance (>96% are prepared and on-time for their appointments) and efficient resource utilization
Our agreements clearly outline roles and responsibilities and afford flexibility
Procedures are outpatient and safe, with a very low hospitalization rate (<1%)
We only recruit volunteer providers who admit to participating hospitals and surgery centers, mitigating risk and liability
Partnering creates positive PR and recognition opportunities
We have a strong culture of evaluation to measure compelling outcomes and improve processes
If you represent a hospital or surgery center and want to learn how to become an active partner, please contact us.
Give.
We rely on contributions from people like you in order to operate our program. Learn more about the many ways to give.
What Our Volunteers Are Saying
“After 15 years of operating in gynecology, the sweetest days are our work with Operation Access. The patients are lovely, thankful, and truly in need of care. After all, caring for others is why we came to medicine in the first place.”
— Fung-Yee Chan, MD & Secily Bason-Mitchell, MD
Gynecologists, Pacific Women’s Obstetrics and Gynecology
“I had heard about the program and was excited to join but didn’t know what to expect. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. I was totally impressed and it felt great helping others. I wanted to bring this volunteer opportunity to Kaiser Richmond’s Special Procedures Unit. I approached my manager and doctors from my team about volunteering and they were excited too. Soon after we held Kaiser Richmond’s first Operation Access GI session and provided 13 procedures for 10 patients.”
— Maria Barchard, RN
Kaiser Permanente Richmond