NTSP Charitable Fund Board announces 2011 recipients of patient care grant funding opportunities

The North Texas Specialty Physicians (NTSP) Charitable Fund Board is pleased to announce the 2011 recipients of its patient care grant funding opportunities. The recipient organizations chosen serve the community and fit within the Charitable Fund's mission of "Driving innovations in the coordination and integration of safe and effective patient care in the North Texas Region."

"The three organizations selected to receive our 2011 grant awards have an opportunity to expand on the important patient care they are providing Tarrant County citizens," said Dr. Mark Presley, Chairman of the NTSP Charitable Fund Board. "We look forward to working with each organization as they focus on decreasing the incidence of diabetes, expanding healthcare and fitness programs to the underserved and uninsured, and continue expanding healthcare services to the homeless of Fort Worth."

Each organization will receive a $10,000 grant from the NTSP Charitable Fund.

JPS – Partners Together for Health

The overarching goal of this grant is to decrease the incidence of diabetes in Tarrant County. JPS will increase diabetes awareness and provide prevention recommendations across Tarrant County through education using community health workers and Promatoras for Hispanic residents. The community health workers and Promatoras will provide diabetes education in a variety of locations including recreation centers, schools, neighborhoods and more to reach Tarrant County residents. JPS will also educate approximately 250 lay people to become health ambassadors who will provide diabetes education and awareness for churches in Tarrant County.

Cornerstone Assistance Network

Cornerstone Assistance Network assists Tarrant County residents who suffer under the burden of poverty with emergency food, clothing and furniture, and free medical, educational and employment services. Cornerstone also provides a free medical clinic to the underserved and uninsured population in Tarrant County, expanding primary care access for those residents. The grant will assist Cornerstone in completing their medical clinic fitness facility and obtain more exercise equipment for their Cardio Can Fitness exercise program. The purpose of the Cardio Can Fitness program is to educate and improve the physical condition of Tarrant County residents who are overweight or obese, or who have been diagnosed with diabetes or heart disease. Upon completion of the fitness facility Cornerstone will be able to provide a free standardized exercise program to Tarrant County residents.

Healing Shepherd Clinic

The immediate goal of the Healing Shepherd Clinic is to meet the established need for free healthcare for homeless men and women of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, beginning with the residents of Union Gospel Mission (UGM) of Tarrant County and guests of the Mission who are non-UGM residents receiving meals or other services from the Mission. By providing primary care services and serving as a medical home for its patients, the Healing Shepherd Clinic ensures that homeless individuals receive free, ongoing healthcare and are armed with the information and knowledge to maintain optimal health. Patients, the community and hospitals benefit when preventive and primary care is provided in a clinic setting and not a hospital emergency room.