Community Service Programs

Sansum Clinic in the Community

In our commitment to provide ‘good health for everyone’ Sansum Clinic has a Charity Care Program for our patients who need financial assistance. In 2023 we provided $396,434 of services to 677 of our patients.

We partner with the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) and SEE International to provide their uninsured patients with diagnostic services and eye care. Services to SBNC and SEE International are provided free of charge to their patients. 

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics

Sansum Clinic is proud to partner with the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) providing them with free diagnostic services for their patients who have no health insurance. This type of partnership is rarely available to safety net providers elsewhere in the country.

SBNC is an independent, nonprofit healthcare organization. As a federally qualified health center SBNC is dedicated to providing high quality, affordable, medical, dental, behavioral health, medication assisted treatment and enabling services to those in need in Santa Barbara County, regardless of one’s ability to pay.

SBNC provides care to 1 in 10 people in the community and they’ve been serving the community for over 53 years. Patients are cared for at four medical clinics, two dental clinics, an integrated care clinic, a bridge clinic for substance use disorders and health promotion services with Wellness Navigators.

Since 2010 Sansum Clinic has provided 7,871 SBNC patients with 12,420 diagnostic services totaling more than $4.1 million. The cardiology diagnostic services include echocardiogram and cardiovascular device monitoring and other diagnostic services such as general and special radiology, MRI scans, CT scans, ultrasounds and mammograms.

Since reinstating the colonoscopy screening program in 2019 Sansum Clinic, in partnership with the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara, has screened 156 SBNC patients.

'Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics would like to extend its deep and heartfelt appreciation to Sansum Clinic for their ongoing, generous partnership that has existed for many years. 

Through our working together, and with the continued donations of Sansum Clinic services, both radiologic studies of all kinds and gastroenterological procedures, we have been able to provide equal care for those community members who are uninsured, in comparison to those who are fortunate enough to have health insurance through their work, or who can qualify for State and Federal Health Insurance assistance. 

Our continued partnership to care for the people of Santa Barbara, has helped allow SBNC to be true to its Mission: … to provide high quality, comprehensive, affordable healthcare to all people, regardless of their ability to pay, in an environment that fosters respect, compassion and dignity.

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics looks forward to a continued, ongoing relationship with Sansum Clinic in the years to come.'

Dr. Susan Lawton, Chief Medical Officer, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics 

SEE International

SEE International is a non-profit organization helping to end preventable blindness in the United States and across the globe.

Sansum Clinic, now part of Sutter Health, is honored to receive the 2024 Humanitarian Award from SEE International.  Dr. Kurt N. Ransohoff, President, Sutter Health Greater Central Coast and our entire team congratulates SEE International on its 50th Anniversary. Sansum Clinic partners with SEE VISION CARE to provide free eye care to SEE patients who have no health and/or vision insurance, enabling members of our communities to receive high-quality services and treatment without worries over cost. Since the start of this partnership in 2019, Sansum Clinic’s eye specialists and medical staff have provided eye care to 150 patients (941 services).   

'The partnership with Sansum Clinic enables our patients requiring specialty care beyond what SEE’s staff and volunteers can deliver to receive treatment without the burden or cost associated with travel. Sansum Clinic’s generosity and service demonstrates its deep commitment to the Santa Barbara community.'

Donald W. Bell, Chief Executive Officer, SEE International 

Doctors Without Walls/Santa Barbara Street Medicine

Doctors Without Walls – Santa Barbara Street Medicine (DWW) is making a meaningful impact on our local communities by delivering critical and sustainable medical and mental health services to the most vulnerable unsheltered and marginally sheltered individuals and families in Santa Barbara County. Their primary goal is to provide medical care to our community’s homeless population living on the street.

DWW is partnered with multiple agencies to provide medical services through place based clinics, evening street outreach and daytime outreach. DWW currently supports Public Health with follow up medical visits with vulnerable clients living on the streets. DWW supports the Neighborhood Navigation Centers, which includes Behavioral Wellness and other agencies that serve the same population.

DWW-SBSM is able to fulfill their mission thanks to the partnership with Sansum Clinic. A number of Sansum physicians and staff members volunteer their time which allows DWW to expand their reach within the community.
 
Sansum Clinic would like to acknowledge the following physicians and staff who graciously volunteer their time to Doctors Without Walls – Santa Barbara Street Medicine:  

Lili Akin, MA Jamie Considine, NP Dree Daughterty, MD Laurie Ells, RN Sonia Hsuan, MA Aaron Lewis Christina Ly, MA Lynn Matis, MFT (retired)

Dave Phreaner, MD Nikita Rangwala, MA  Berenice Ruvalcaba Jack Snyder, MA Marie Tafoya, MA John Vallee, MD (retired) Alex Yim, MA

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