South San Francisco, CA, November 11, 2023 – Submitted by Karl Sonkin
his past Saturday, Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco staged a “procedure day” with Operation Access; more than 20 volunteer doctors, nurses, and staff provided no-cost colonoscopies to 18 patients brought by Operation Access.
Gabriella Jimenez, 57, of Napa had been living in fear for months ever since she tested positive on a home screening test for colorectal cancer.
An equally-worried Alejandro Garcia-Caballero of the East Bay was experiencing unusual bleeding, which can also be a possible sign of colorectal cancer.
Neither had health insurance so a diagnostic colonoscopy was out of the question. Fortunately, both were able to get the help they needed thanks to Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco doctors, nurses, and staff who recently volunteered in partnership with Operation Access to provide 18 patients with free colonoscopies. More than 20 health care professionals spent a recent Saturday morning at the medical center’s outpatient surgery center providing care to those in need.
In addition to providing the no-cost care, a two-year $360,000 grant from a Kaiser Permanente fund at the East Bay Community Foundation is supporting Operation Access’ Donated Surgical and Specialty Care program. The program coordinates with 76 medical facilities, including many Kaiser Permanente medical centers, to provide no-cost care to people in need. During its 30-year-long partnership with Operation Access, Kaiser Permanente has provided more than 12,000 surgeries and other specialty care procedures to people in need.
“Through a 30-year partnership with Kaiser Permanente, Operation Access provides a model for medical volunteerism locally,” said Operation Access Program Director Ali Balick. “By providing prompt access to care, we reduce emergency room visits, save patients from pain and disability, and improve health outcomes throughout our community.”
Kaiser Permanente physicians like Varun Saxena, MD, have regularly volunteered with Operation Access.
“Doing this kind of volunteer work is absolutely essential and integral to what it means to be a Kaiser Permanente physician,” said Saxena, chief of gastroenterology at Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco. “We’re really invested in the care and the health of all members of our community. This is a wonderful event we get to do twice a year and it provides services to patients who may not have access. Honestly, the feeling we get at the end of the day is really kind of refreshing and it ‘refills our tanks’ to do this work.”
Both Jimenez and Garcia-Cabarello were sent home after their procedures and are awaiting further follow-up information from Kaiser Permanente.
“My heart has no words to express how grateful I am to have this medical care,” Garcia-Caballero said.
