PORTLAND, Ore. —The Regence Foundation announced a $94,000 grant to Pacific University for the Interdisciplinary Diabetes Clinic at Pacific University, which is scheduled to open in Hillsboro next spring. The safety-net clinic will be open to anyone with diabetes, with a primary focus on providing affordable care to Latinos and other underserved populations with diabetes.

According to the Office of Minority Health and Centers for Disease Control, more than 10 percent of Latinos over the age of 18 have been diagnosed with diabetes. Latinos with diabetes are also more likely to be treated for end-stage renal disease caused by diabetes, or to die from diabetes. In addition, a large percentage of Oregon Latinos are without health insurance.

“A major focus for The Regence Foundation is removing barriers to care and making sure community members have access to quality, affordable care close to home,” said Michael Alexander, Regence Foundation board chair. “The Oregon Diabetes Coalition reports that there are currently 30,000 diabetes patients in Washington County. The need for affordable, culturally sensitive health services far outstrips the capacity of the existing safety-net system.”

The Regence Foundation grant will be used for electronic health records, as basic start-up support, and to help the clinic hire a director and patient care coordinator. The patient care coordinator will help ensure patients receive care and patient education for all aspects of their diabetic condition, whether it is physical therapy for mobility issues, dental care for periodontal disease, or eye care for retinal disease or glaucoma.

“Meeting the healthcare needs of our diverse community is central to our mission and values,” said Dr. Lesley Hallick, Pacific University president. “Spanish language competency and cultural sensitivity is built into every part of the health care curriculum we teach at Pacific University. Our goal is to help our students become well-rounded health professionals who can treat the whole patient and the whole community.”

The clinic will be located on the Pacific University Health Professions Campus in Hillsboro, which houses the University’s professional programs in optometry, dental health, pharmacy, professional psychology, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, physical therapy and healthcare administration, as well as the Hillsboro Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center. In addition to Virginia Garcia, significant partners also include The Essential Health Clinic and Tuality Healthcare. Pacific University students from a variety of health specialties will have the opportunity to work and train in the Interdisciplinary Diabetes Clinic.

This grant was paid through The Regence Fund at The Oregon Community Foundation. In addition to The Regence Foundation grant, the clinic also received a $10,000 grant from The Standard Foundation.