Providers team up with OHF to help patients in need
In challenging times, it’s good to know your neighbors have your back. When patients find it difficult to meet healthcare costs, some very special local providers partner with the Ottauquechee Health Foundation to provide that peace of mind for patients through OHF’s Good Neighbor Grants program.
Good Neighbor Grants cover a wide range of care for patients in need, including dental work, eyeglasses, physical therapy, mental health, and many other services. Sometimes OHF refers a patient to a particular provider for healthcare services, and other times the provider mentions OHF as a way to help the patient pay for medical expenses. And these local providers discount their services to help Good Neighbor Grant money go further.
Eleanor Lowenthal, a psychotherapist with office locations in Woodstock and Norwich, said the grant assistance has been a huge help in the past for individuals who, for example, have lost a job and therefore their health insurance. The grant helps them access the care they need.
“This program certainly opens a couple more doors for people than would be available otherwise,” Lowenthal said.
Read more about Eleanor and her practice.
Josh Roylance, owner of Woodstock-based Upper Valley Rehab, echoed that sentiment and said it’s great to be able to offer the grant option to patients. Often, it’s clear if a patient is feeling apprehensive about the cost or the co-pay for the care they need, he explained. In that case, Upper Valley Rehab suggests the OHF grants as a next step.
“We work together as a team with the Health Foundation to meet the needs of the patient,” Roylance said.
Read more about Josh and Upper Valley Rehab
“The Health Foundation does a great job of explaining the application process to the patient,” said Dr. Tara Symancyk of White River Dentist, located in White River Junction. The OHF Good Neighbor Grants have helped people pay for dental care they couldn’t afford for years due to financial limitations. Dr. Symancyk said there are often some special moments along the way, starting with when they are first told about the program. “There’s a sense of relief on their face that this could be a possibility,” she said.
Read more about Tara and White River Dentist
Some of the participating providers have taken part in the grant program for well over a decade. Since 2000, OHF has delivered well over $100,000 in grants annually, sometimes approaching or surpassing $200,000. OHF is honored to collaborate with providers to support the health and well-being of so many in our communities.
Of course, Eleanor, Josh, and Tara are not the only providers OHF works with. In fact, there are over 40 local providers and practices that help OHF reach its mission. To all of them, the foundation is grateful.