Ensuring underserved populations have access to quality patient care is a top priority for Jessica M. Rodriguez, the new Orange County Medical Clinic manager.
“One of the main things I’m working on is getting more exposure and access to who we are and what we do,” she said. “So many patients are eligible for treatment and don’t even know we exist.”
Under the leadership of Dr. Raul Pino, Mr. Rodriguez will strive to achieve these goals through community outreach, collaborative partnerships, and grants to expand services and comprehensive care through preventive measures.
Rodriguez brings business acumen, problem-solving abilities, and solid networking skills to this mayoral appointment. She ensures smooth operations and ensures that the clinic's services align with its mission to “improve the quality of life for the uninsured population through collaborative partnerships to provide excellent and compassionate health care.” This is the key to ensuring that
The former executive was born and raised in Puerto Rico and moved to Orlando in 2012, bringing marketing and management skills to AdventHealth. In just 12 years, she has mastered the nuances of the healthcare industry, innovated processes to improve the quality of care, and seized every opportunity that came her way. This included the opening of the first AdventHealth Primary Care Plus Facility, which became the model for nearly a dozen other facilities throughout Orange County and elsewhere.
“We built the hiring, training from the ground up. You name it,” she said. “I gained valuable experience in leadership and teamwork as I worked closely with teams of healthcare providers and staff to provide excellent care.”
Rodriguez brought this patient-based business model to Orange County Medical Clinic, a regional safe haven for the uninsured since 1936.
“The ability to balance operational efficiency with quality of patient care is a skill I will bring to this new role,” she said.
Just over a month on the job, Rodriguez has been hard at work engaging the community. The grant awarded for the construction of a new mobile health unit will help the team reach more patients with preventive health screenings, including a 'Know Your Numbers' campaign offering blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI tests. Masu.
“We have a lot of patients with diabetes and high blood pressure. These patients are really sick and exhausted from coming to the emergency room,” she said. “One of the challenges now is patients requiring follow-up care.”
Many homeless clients lack reliable transportation and are unable to return for routine testing. Currently, the clinic offers bus passes, but Rodriguez wants to think of new ways to support this population.
“Orange County Medical Clinic is a critical resource that we are actively working to expand, primarily serving residents without health insurance,” Dr. Pino said. “Jessica is the perfect candidate for this role because of her experience developing and growing clinics in Central Florida communities. I am confident that he will do well.”
When Rodriguez is not overseeing daily operations at the clinic on South Westmoreland Drive, she can be found at home cooking for family and friends or enjoying the beach.
The Orange County Medical Clinic is free to those who meet certain financial eligibility guidelines. For more information, visit https://www.ocfl.net/FamiliesHealthSocialSvcs/OrangeCountyMedicalClinic.aspx.
