MEDIA ALERT – (May 14, 2025) Heart to Heart International (HHI) will install a point-of-care lab today at Good Neighbor Health Clinic in White River Junction, Vt.

The HHI lab program aims to improve patient outcomes by implementing timely and accurate treatment protocols. Many Americans delay medical care due to cost and transportation barriers. HHI addresses these challenges by installing point-of-care laboratories in clinics allowing for quick, on-the-spot testing and results, enhancing diagnoses and patient outcomes. This testing is especially crucial for diagnosing and managing chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

• Wednesday, May 21st from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. during installation
• Thursday, May 22nd from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. during training 
• To coordinate interviews, please call (603) 677-6322. 

Good Neighbor Health Clinic Executive Director Elizabeth Austin stated: “We are delighted to have the partnership of Heart to Heart International to make health equity happen; Good Neighbor Health Clinic was created to meet the needs in our community that go beyond the traditional healthcare setting. Often, the members of our community served in this space face significant barriers in accessing care. This incredible gift and partnership will allow us to deliver healthcare sooner, right here, rather than waiting several days from the time of appointment for results. We can move forward today. By having this point-of-care testing equipment, it will revolutionize our work to be more effective when timing matters for our patients”

HHI Senior Vice President of Programs Tenagashaw (Tena) Tiruneh had this to say: “This partnership embodies our commitment to the goals of our laboratory program and supports our mission of improving access to equitable healthcare in medically under-resourced communities.”

HHI with support from BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) will equip this health center with modern lab equipment, staff training, mentoring, technical support, and supplies and reagents for the first 12 months. All installed equipment becomes the clinic’s permanent property.

With the installation of a point-of-care lab at a free health clinic, patients don’t have to make additional arrangements for transportation or pay extra fees for lab testing. This approach effectively reduces barriers! Provides frequent testing at a patient’s health clinic promoting a higher level of engagement between the patients and their healthcare providers. and increases the likelihood of patients following clinical and treatment advice. Lab tests performed at the time of clinic visits allow for more efficient workflow processes, expeditious decision-making and a better treatment plan. Immediate availability of results allows patients to be treated and on their way to recovery.

HHI Director of the Laboratory Program Heidi Schutz added: “Heart to Heart International is excited for this opportunity to partner with Good Neighbor Health Clinic as we continue to break down barriers to equitable access to healthcare in under-resourced communities by installing point-of-care laboratories in free and charitable clinics. With our POC Lab Program, Good Neighbor Health Clinic will gain the instrumentation, reagents and supplies, training, and mentoring needed to enable them in providing rapid, accurate laboratory results to aid in diagnosis and treatment decisions for their patients all within the same visit.”

To learn more about HHIs Laboratory Program, visit: Point of Care Laboratories – Support Heart to Heart International. For additional programs aimed at improving health access locally and globally please visit: www.hearttoheart.org

Heart to Heart International is a nonprofit international health organization with its headquarters in Lenexa, Kansas. Since its inception in 1992, HHI has delivered medical aid and supplies worth $3.2 billion to more than 130 countries, including within the United States. HHI responds to natural disasters both domestically and internationally by supplying medical relief and mobilizing volunteers. The organization is a 4-star Charity Navigator charity, a BBB Accredited charity and is on the “Philanthropy 400”. To learn more, visit hearttoheart.org.

Media Contact:
Andrea Wilson (she, her)
Community Engagement Specialist
M 816-674-1897 | Andrea.Wilson@hearttoheart.org
11550 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219
hearttoheart.org

Keeping our safety net intact

Elizabeth Austin and Todd Allen, for the Valley News

Our healthcare system is in a deepening crisis.

That’s a fact that’s been acknowledged and discussed for years but is now worsened by the sweeping reforms to funding for healthcare and medical research proposed by the Trump administration. The need for societal safety nets like free and nonprofit health clinics, developed over recent decades, is skyrocketing.

The Good Neighbor Health Clinic (GNHC) and Red Logan Dental Clinic (RLDC) in White River Junction have served the Upper Valley’s neediest and most vulnerable residents since 1992. In that time, we’ve seen demand for our adult primary care and dental services steadily increase: from 2022 to 2025, our scheduled medical appointments grew by more than 60%. Now, with proposed changes to Medicaid and Medicare and the freeze on federal grants looming, our dedicated, committed staff and volunteers are being challenged as never before to meet an ever-increasing need for
our services.

As we face the specter of dwindling federal and state support, how do we keep our safety net from unraveling?

Friday, April 25, will mark GNHC’s second annual “Day of Giving,” a special fundraising event to rally support for our mission to provide vital services to those in need. It’s a day where neighbors unite to make a difference, showing solidarity and generosity towards ensuring access to quality healthcare for all. We’ve set a goal of $10,000, which will be instrumental in sustaining the essential services offered by the Good Neighbor Health Clinic and Red Logan Dental Clinic. Donations will be matched up to $5,000 from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. Every dollar raised will directly contribute to providing medical and dental care to individuals and families who may otherwise go without.

We are blessed to live in a caring, giving community in the Upper Valley. GNHC and RLDC have benefitted from that generosity over the years. If you’ve been a donor to GNHC and other local organizations like us, we thank you. If you’re interested in contributing to our Day of Giving and would like to know more about us and our work, please contact us. We’ll be happy to share our successes as well as our challenges.

– Elizabeth Austin is the executive director of Good Neighbor Health Clinic and
Red Logan Dental Clinic in White River Junction. Todd Allen is chair of the board of trustees of GNHC and RLDC.

We’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received over the years, and we couldn’t have made it this far without YOU! To celebrate, we’re thrilled to announce that for this year’s Good Neighbor Day of Giving we’ve received a generous match from the New Hampshire Charitable Organization, doubling the impact of your donation up to $5,000 and will be hosting a raffle for additional support!

We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our amazing sponsors who have made this year’s Good Neighbor Day of Giving raffle possible! Their support has allowed us to offer some great prizes, and we couldn’t be more thankful for their commitment to our cause. These gifts come from businesses and individuals who care about making a difference, and their generosity truly helps us continue our work to care for our neighbors.

To buy tickets for the Good Neighbor Day of Giving Raffle, visit: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/E0ac56A9yT57qhyII3-m_g

If you’d like to donate directly, visit: https://goodneighborhealthclinic.org/donate/

The last day to buy tickets will be April 21, 2025! The winners will be announced on our anniversary, Friday, April 25th!

All proceeds from the raffle and Good Neighbor Day of Giving go directly to support the programs and services provided by Good Neighbor Health Clinic and Red Logan Dental Clinic.

White River Junction, VT, February 10, 2025—

Good Neighbor Health Clinic, Inc. today announced it is among the awardees across the United States that received a grant from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity, which mobilizes financial resources for organizations focused on non-clinical interventions that affect a person’s health. Commonly known as the social determinants of health, these factors include an individual’s physical, social, political, cultural, and economic environment.

“This latest round of more than $8 million in grants, made possible by generous support from MacKenzie Scott, the AbbVie Foundation, and Eli Lilly and Company, is the most recent infusion of funding for organizations deeply committed in eliminating health disparities and improving healthcare quality in their communities”, said Dr. Byron Scott, Direct Relief CEO and Co-Chair of the Fund for Health Equity. “Direct Relief is proud to support and grateful for the work they do every day.”

Good Neighbor Health Clinic, Inc. received $200000 from the Fund for Health Equity for its work to support its efforts to meet the growing dental needs in the community while striving to create sustainable care models. The dental program results in more access, and improved outcomes for all who seek dental care services without a compromise in quality, or fear creating healthcare justice, and embodying the principle of health equity through access for all.

The awardees were selected by the Fund for Health Equity’s Advisory Council, which includes the following members:

• Co-Chair Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, 18th US Surgeon General of the United States, Founder Bayou Clinic, Inc.
• Co-Chair Byron Scott, MD, MBA, Direct Relief CEO
• Martha Dawson, DNP, MSN, RN, FACHE, President and CEO President of the National Black Nurses Association, Associate Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Jane Delgado, Ph.D., MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health
• Gail Small, JD, Head Chief Woman, a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe

“We are pleased to support Good Neighbor Health Clinic, Inc. and other grassroots organizations dedicated to advancing health equity and addressing disparities in underserved communities across the United States,” said Dr. Byron Scott, MD, MBA, Co-Chair of the Fund for Health Equity and CEO of Direct Relief. “These organizations are invaluable partners in creating lasting change because they are deeply rooted in the communities they serve, possess firsthand understanding of their needs, and are uniquely positioned to deliver impactful solutions.”