Kaleida has embarked upon an exciting new project, one that will result in a comprehensive inventory of all its available services. To that end, Kaleida has partnered with HealthforAll of WNY, Inc., a nonprofit organization whose mission is to expand access to quality healthcare for the uninsured through community partnerships. Made available through federal grant funding, HealthforAll created WNYhelpnet.ORG, a Web-based directory of WNY health and human services, built to promote linkages of uninsured clients to existing safety-net services.

Located on a public Web site, www.wnyhelpnet.org, the helpnet lists information about more than 6,000 health and human service programs including details such as address, phone number, Web site, contact person, fee structure, health care coverage information, and eligibility requirements.

HealthforAll wishes to expand helpnet’s information to include hospital programs and services. Kaleida will serve as the model for this project; HealthforAll representatives will visit the 70 locations affiliated with Kaleida beginning in May 2003, starting with Buffalo General Hospital. The information collected will be used both internally by Kaleida employees and externally by the community and health care professionals.

This project will not only provide an inventory of Kaleida services, it will help to refer the underinsured to available services and will promote linkages for uninsured patients to health care coverage programs through Kaleida facilitated enrollers. We look forward to working together on this exciting and innovative project! For questions or comments, please contact Kathy Leonard at 837-8400 x108 or e-mail at kleonard@kaleidahealth.org.