Reducing Disparity in Healthcare
The Spine Health Foundatin provides a helping hand to disadvantaged individuals who suffer from spinal disorders. We help people "get back to life."
About You
About You
First Name
Carol
Last Name
Conduff
Twitter URL
Facebook URL
http://www.facebook.com/The Spine Health Foundation Inc
About Your Organization
Organization Name
The Spine Health Foundation, Inc.
Organization Website
Organization Country
United States, TN, Johnson City, Washington County
Country where this project is creating social impact
United States, TN, Tri-Cities, Washington County
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
How long has your organization been operating?
1‐5 years
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
References - Please provide two references with a two-sentence biography, email address, and phone number for each
Dr. Morgan Lorio, Official Spokesperson for the Spine Health Foundation. Dr. Lorio specializes in spine surgery and is committed to making a difference in the lives of others by providing a voice for the disadvantaged & the SHF to raise awareness and provide solutions.(P)423.844.0501 (Email) mplmd@neurospinesolutions.net;
Ben Zandi, Board of Directors President for the SHF. Ben is passionate about providing a helping hand to disadvantaged individuals and helping people in our community by giving back. Ben Zandi, (P) 423.217.1201 (Email) bz@benzandi.com
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Innovation
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Growth (your pilot is up and running, and starting to expand)
How long have you been in operation?
Operating for 1‐5 years
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
Providing immediate solutions for disadvantaged individuals who suffer with spinal disorders or injuries. Solutions may include: specialized medical care i.e. surgery, epidurals, chiropractic care, mental health services, and/or education. Currently there are no options available for the underserved who have spinal disorders or injuries. Spinal disorders/injuries destroy lives & create a negative impact to individuals, families & communities, when left untreated. Currently, in clinics and hospitals, individuals who present to these facilities with spinal issues are not provided with appropriate care. Instead, patients are provided pain medications which only offer a temporary solution for pain, yet can create issues i.e. addiction, depression, and even suicide.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
I have organized a foundation of dedicated physicians, and business leaders dedicated to providing hope and demonstrate a helping hand to the underserved population. For disadvantaged, uninsured individuals who have spinal issues/injuries, the SHF deploys a full-spectrum of services and health care professionals able to meet their needs, through our professional volunteer base. SHF recipients will have equality and direct access to quality care. They too will have an opportunity to regain their health, so they can get back to work to support their families, and be active in their communities once again. By providing a solution, we are giving these individuals an opportunity to be independent and live healthier pain-free lives. Otherwise, they could be facing a dismal future and possibly a burden on our socio-economic system through disability.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
Once an individual contacts the Spine Health Foundation for assistance, our first priority is to determine if this individual meets the criteria for assistance. We request a signed authorization/privacy agreement; a completed financial application to determine eligibility; and if they have consulted with a medical professional regarding these symptoms. Once approved, the recipient chooses a healthcare provider; we (SHF), contact the provider’s office to notify them of the recipient & set up a consultation. Once the physician has met with the recipient and has provided his/her medical opinion, the recipient makes a decision regarding moving forward with recommended medical procedures/treatments. Providers choose if they will provide services pro bono or be reimbursed by the SHF at a reduced rate. Reimbursement rates are determined prior to procedure. The extended role of the SHF is to stay in touch with the recipient before the surgery to make sure she/he has everything they need including words of encouragement. On the day of surgery, I always make a personal visit to check in on the recipient and the family to let them know we care. I am proud to report positive results from all of the services we provide to these deserving individuals. SHF recipients are able to resume their lives without debilitating spinal issues. Our goal is to provide hope and healing solutions.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
The SHF is the only non-profit org focused on directly impacting the lives of disadvantaged individuals who suffer from spinal disorders. Our peers are clinics & hospitals. However, the policies in place provide limited care for the disadvantaged. The SHF exists due to the extreme need that exists due to increased number of disadvantaged uninsured individuals. The SHF anticipates expansion and growth in other regions due to the positive response we have received physicians & community leaders & the positive impact we are making in the lives of affected individuals as well as the people close to them. Currently, hospital systems have been willing to work with the SHF to allow for SHF recipients to have MRIs, CTs & surgeries. Our challenge would be if we lost this current support.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Social Impact
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
I can identify with the extreme pain people feel with spinal disorders, because I was suddenly stricken with a spinal disorder in Oct. 2009. After 6 months of trying to find relief through various methods (chiropractic & epidurals) & no relief, surgery was the next logical step. In Feb. 2010, I had spine surgery, which was a success! Not only did it relieve the debilitating pain, but I can now do everything I did before. While recovering from surgery, I met many people who shared stories about themselves, loved ones or friends who have spinal issues, but cannot get medical care due to being uninsured. These compelling and heartbreaking stories included depression; pain medication addiction; loss of employment, home, families; even suicide. All because they lost hope that they would ever be free from the pain and disability. These stories deeply affected me, so I researched & found no resources available to disadvantaged, uninsured people. I decided it was time to make a change!
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
The goal of the SHF is to provide disadvantaged individuals with the resources and access to quality care, so they can get back to life. Offer them a hope of living their lives, supporting their families without constant pain. Our solution reaches far beyond the affected individuals, but their family, friends and community. My personal experience with the pain associated with a spinal disorder opened my eyes to the despair that someone feels. Fortunately I had insurance & could get medical treatment. But for those who don't, hope is lost quickly. The SHF provides Hope for Today. A SHF recipient has access to the same medical care and options as everyone else. With our assistance, these individuals can become productive again which is important to mind, body and soul.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
Since the SHF received its nonprofit certification in Feb. 2011, we have helped 5 people obtain spine surgery;2 with epidurals & chiropractic treatments; & others with mental health resources; education; back braces; & assistance navigating through the maze of health care. The recipients who received surgeries are all doing well & have resumed their lives by returning to work & school.They are healthier physically & mentally. By providing a solution to the problem, we have avoided negative issues: pain medication addictions, depression, hopelessness, loss of identity,& quite possibly suicide. The economic impact is also worth sharing-without our assistance, these individuals would have eventually been on disability which is an additional drain on our system. We have witnessed a direct & positive impact in the lives of recipient's & their families by relieving them of the daily emotional distress they endured.These individuals are productive again.
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
Our 5 year goal is to expand our coverage to other areas where there are large populations of underserved individuals. We will continue to gain financial support & awareness throughout our region to continue helping so many more people who suffer with spinal disorders so they can have an equal chance to quality specialized medical care. As we continue to help people, we anticipate our project to continually gain traction in the areas of healthcare, local government & communities which will open doors to other communities. To date, our positive impact to individuals, families & communities has been very successful.Our ability to reach out & grow is directly connected with the support we receive. The response from corporations has been very positive & we anticipate this to continue.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Physicians track a recipients progress from the beginning until they are released from care. Updates are provided to the SHF.
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your six-month milestone
Task 1
Reach our financial benchmark (goal) to begin accepting more applications from disadvantaged individuals.
Task 2
Gain support from more local hospital systems;
Task 3
Begin paying a salary to the SHF Executive Director;
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Open branches of the SHF in other cities across the U.S. Next stop Dallas Texas!
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your 12-month milestone
Task 1
Reach our financial goal of $ 70,000.00 at our fundraiser February 25, 2012;
Task 2
Continue to write successful grant proposals;
Task 3
Present the SHF to community leaders who are looking at opening a branch of the SHF in their city!
Sustainability
Tell us about your partnerships
We have strong partnerships with physicians who support our mission of helping the underserved population who suffer with spinal disorders/injuries. We currently have 19 physicians who provide specialized medical care to disadvantaged individuals through the SHF.The SHF has provided dedicated physicians with an organization to help them serve others who need a helping hand. Other vital partnerships include corporations, pharmaceutical companies and device companies who recognize the value of our organization and want to be a part of the solution by helping the less fortunate get back to life.
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your innovation? If so, where and why?
Yes. The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS) reached out to the SHF to learn more about our organization. They added our logo & website link to their website.They have also created a new entity focusing on patient advocacy & plan to include SHF information. We have also connected with North American Spine Society, (NASS). Additionally, a large physician group in a major city has contacted the SHF wanting to learn more about our organization and how they can start a branch in their city. We look forward to continuing these conversations in the coming months.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
Due to my own personal experience, I can identify with individuals who have pain as a result of a spinal disorder or injury. This passion for our cause is also prevalent among our physicians & board of directors.The goal of the SHF is to continually enhance the organization by reaching out to individuals who are committed to the same cause. Our physicians provide direction & support regarding all health related issues & have connections with organizations that have the ability to propel our organization into greater success. Our board of directors identify with spinal disorders either at a personal level or someone close to them. We are all committed to growing this foundation through sound financial stewardship so we can continue fulfilling our mission for years to come.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
The Spine Health Foundation has been very fortunate to have gained support from media and marketing sources locally and nationally. It would be an honor to help another organization gain support by providing ideas and assistance. We would also be very willing to accept mentorship, funding, and ideas on how to improve our foundation so more people can benefit from our cause.
 | 67 weeks ago Carol Conduff updated this Competition Entry. |
| 67 weeks ago Carol Conduff updated this Competition Entry. |
| 67 weeks ago Carol Conduff updated this Competition Entry. |
| 67 weeks ago Carol Conduff updated this Competition Entry. |
| 67 weeks ago Carol Conduff updated this Competition Entry. |
| 67 weeks ago Carol Conduff submitted this idea. |
