Scranton Area Community Foundation awards grant to The Wright Center

The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education will use a $18,700 grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation to help its patients in need with transportation, hygiene supplies and household items.

Specifically, the grant money will be used to buy bus passes, transportation vouchers and gas cards for patients enrolled in The Wright Center for Community Health’s Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support program and patients being helped by The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s new street medicine program to get to and from doctor appointments at Wright Center community health centers and at community partners across the region.

“Transportation assistance is essential to help patients access critical services and reduce barriers to care,” said Dr. Douglas Klamp, who leads the street medicine team and serves as The Wright Center’s senior vice president, chief medical education officer, and physician chair of resident and fellow talent acquisition. “By improving transportation access, patients will be better able to attend appointments, adhere to treatment, and remain engaged in care, especially if they are experiencing financial difficulties, housing insecurity, or other challenges.”

The money will also be used to provide hygiene supplies and household items to patients at the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Clinic.