Dinner with a Doc Expands Valley’s Homeless Outreach Efforts

Community Outreach Coordinator Betsy Kirichenko, LPN, and Dr. Michael Hori at the Dinner with a Doc clinic.

Pharmacy Residents Jane Chang and Tristan Curtis, Pharmacist Peter Tran, and Pharmacy Resident Shauna Leggett gave flu shots at October's Dinner with a Doc clinic.

Community Outreach Coordinator Betsy Kirichenko, LPN; Clinic Coordinator Jessica Storaasli, CMA/LPN; Alma Gomez, PAC; LaRena Nuezca, PSR; Michael Hori, MD; Rhona Seng, PSR; and Occupational Health Clinic Manager Maria Dakan gave flu shots to patrons of the Salvation Army's Community Dinner in February 2018.

Pharmacist Serena Le, Pharmacy Intern Jeffrey Lew, and Pharmacy Supervisor Peter Tran gave flu shots to patrons of the Salvation Army's Community Dinner in February 2018.

Community Outreach Coordinator Betsy Kirichenko, LPN, and Social Media & PR Coordinator Jessica Askew purchasing toiletry items for Salvation Army Community Dinner patrons thanks to a gift card donation from Fred Meyer.

It's never too early to start volunteering for your community! Betsy's daughter Hailey, pictured with a Salvation Army volunteer, attends each Dinner with a Doc to help serve food during the Salvation Army Community Dinner.

Bombas donated 1,000 pairs of socks to Valley's homeless outreach efforts.

Valley's Community Outreach team with a Bartell Drugs' employee after purchasing toiletry items for patrons of the Salvation Army Community Dinner with a gift card donated by Bartell Drugs.

Toiletry items purchased thanks to gift card donations from Fred Meyer and Bartell Drugs.

Valley Medical Center has long supported Renton RotaCare, a free Saturday clinic for families and individuals who are unable to obtain health insurance but are in need of non-emergent care. Earlier this year, the RotaCare model was used to pilot an extension program called “Dinner with a Doc,” to bring care directly to patrons of the Renton Salvation Army’s community dinner.

Using RotaCare’s infrastructure and volunteers, the RotaCare Dinner with a Doc clinic operates on the third Monday of each month from 5:45 to 7 p.m. Dinner with a Doc was spearheaded by Valley’s General Medicine unit Assistant Nurse Manager Trevor Lanz, RN, BSN, MSN, who developed the homeless health clinic program as part of his master’s in nursing thesis. Lanz, a long time RotaCare volunteer wanted to help expand access to care for those in need.

“For me, an important aspect of life is service to others, that’s one of the reasons I volunteer,” Lanz says.

Dr. Michael Hori, Medical Director for Valley’s Infectious Disease and Wound Care clinics has been the “Doc” for Dinner with a Doc on several occasions. “I have participated in RotaCare since Dr. Bob Thompson and Judge Robert McBeth started it at Renton Technical College,” says Dr. Hori, “so I was familiar with the concept and enjoyed participating. The clientele was amazingly varied and generally really needed help. Unfortunately, work and life did in my Saturday mornings, so I haven’t been able to make it to the usual RotaCare clinic for some time. So, when Trevor put together this clinic at a time when I was available, I jumped at the opportunity. I have not been disappointed. I have been endlessly surprised at the people I meet and am gratified that I may be of service to some of them.”

Clinic and Pharmacy Staff and Pharmacy Residents Give Time to Offer Free Flu Shots
During the October Dinner with a Doc, Pharmacist Peter Tran and pharmacy residents Jane Chang, Tristan Curtis, and Shauna Leggett volunteered their time to make flu shots available free of charge for all adult patrons. This was the third time Valley staff and pharmacy residents offered free flu shots during the Salvation Army Community Dinner, after Renton Mayor Denis Law and the Renton City Council identified the need for vaccinations to help our most vulnerable residents prevent the flu. He requested the hospital’s assistance to protect  those who are homeless or without insurance from this potentially life-threatening illness.

Outreach Efforts Include Pursuing Donations of Socks and Toiletries
In addition to providing medical services, Valley is actively pursuing items that could be of use to the homeless population within Valley’s hospital district. Led by Community Outreach Coordinator Betsy Kirichenko who contacted numerous companies for donations, efforts thus far have garnered a generous in-kind donation of 1,000 pairs of warm socks from Bombas, and gift card donations from Fred Meyer and Bartell Drugs.

Bombas started as a company with a mission in mind, helping supply the number one requested item at homeless shelters, socks. Their business model was built so that every pair of socks that is purchased one pair is donated. Since their start Bombas has donated 10 million socks and counting. The socks they donate to homeless shelters are not the same as the ones they sell online. They specifically designed these with anti-microbial properties and are suitable for people who many not have the opportunity to put on a clean pair everyday. Bombas partners with over 1,700 organizations throughout the United States, Valley Medical Center now being one of them.

With the donated gift cards, Valley’s Outreach team purchased 40 deodorants, 21 shave creams, and 126 razors for Dinner with a Doc patrons. Kirichenko continues to pursue additional avenues of in-kind and monetary donations for items that will be of use to local homeless services.