West Palm Beach, FL. - On Friday, June 8, 2007, representatives from local healthcare and social services agencies, as well as legislators including State Representative Susan Bucher and delegates from the offices of State Representatives Shelley Vana and Mary Brandenburg, joined together for “Walk in My Shoes.” This health access simulation was designed to highlight healthcare access challenges, facilitate understanding of the barriers regularly faced by those who are uninsured or underinsured, and prompt individuals to develop and support efforts to eliminate these barriers.  

During the role-play, over 70 participants assumed the identities of people on both sides of the table—the uninsured/underinsured and healthcare providers or administrators.  Emotions ranged from utter confusion to despair as participants tried to navigate through simulated state agencies, emergency rooms, health plan administrations and physician’s offices while facing the challenges of work, child care, language barriers, finances and transportation. 

“This event was designed to highlight healthcare access challenges and encourage decision makers to support efforts and reduce obstacles patients and their families go through to get quality healthcare. It is important to bring the community together to design access solutions because this is a community problem, ” said Amy Dean, of Palm Healthcare Foundation.

The “Walk in My Shoes” healthcare access simulation was run by Community Catalyst, a national advocacy organization that builds consumer and community participation in the shaping of our health system to ensure quality, affordable health care for all.  Sponsors of the event include: Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc., Allegany Franciscan Ministries and BlueCross BlueShield of Florida.

 About Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc.
Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc. was chartered in 2001 as an independent community healthcare foundation. Believing that “Together We Can Do More,” the foundation’s mission is to transform healthcare challenges by bringing together the talents and resources of the community to create innovative solutions that deliver high-impact results. The Foundation’s funding priorities—access to healthcare, healthcare quality and safety, healthcare technology, healthcare policy and healthcare workforce—are designed to empower non-profit healthcare organizations and healthcare professionals to create programs and services that improve the quality of life for Palm Beach County’s underserved citizens.  Since 2001, the Foundation has distributed more than $14 million to over 70 non-profit organizations in Palm Beach County operating over 130 programs that met its funding goals.  To learn more about Palm Healthcare Foundation, please visit www.palmhealthcare.org.