Community

The Oklahoma County Medical Society has a long history of incubating worthwhile community projects, providing resources to help them get started improving the lives of our citizens.

Current Community Projects

ITNCentral Oklahoma

The most recent community project for the Oklahoma County Medical Society is helping to bring a new kind of transportation service to Oklahoma County senior citizens and the visually impaired. ITNCentral Oklahoma will provide transportation 24/7 anywhere within the service area in private cars driven by screened and trained volunteer drivers. With ITNCentral Oklahoma,seniors and the visually impaired can lead active, independent lives and continue to participate in their community without feeling like a burden on friends and family and without endangering others around them.

Health Alliance for the Uninsured

The Health Alliance for the Uninsured is a collaboration of physicians, hospitals and other community partners whose goal is to increase access to primary and specialty care for Oklahoma County citizens who do not have a medical home and often seek medical care in the hospital emergency rooms or free clinics. The concept began with Dr. R. Murali Krishna, 2005 OCMS President, who had the vision of developing a coordinated health care delivery system for the uninsured in Oklahoma County.

Healthy Schools Oklahoma

Due to concerns addressed by the OCMS Community Health Committee, the Schools for Healthy Lifestyles (SHL) program was started in 1996, with the Oklahoma City-County Health Department and the Oklahoma State Department of Health as partners. This community-based health promotion program concentrates on education in the areas of injury prevention, nutrition, physical fitness and tobacco use prevention. OCMS physicians are encouraged to participate in this program by becoming an “Adopt-A-Doc” for an SHL school. 

Hospice of Oklahoma County

In 1990, OCMS leadership recognized the need for a local non-profit hospice and established Hospice of Oklahoma County. It was the only hospice in the U.S. organized and funded by physicians. This hospice is now named INTEGRIS Hospice of Oklahoma County.

AMCARE/EMSA

In 1975, OCMS began publicizing the need for a community emergency transport system. Over a period of 1+ years, working in conjunction with the Mayor’s Task Force, AMCARE (now EMSA) started without the assistance of government funding. OCMS committed $19,000 in financial support and provided physicians who served as members of the professional advisory group.

Oklahoma Blood Institute

In 1972, OCMS leadership began a study of the local blood banking problems. After several years of planning financing was secured by physicians. and the Oklahoma Blood Institute was formed. It is now recognized as a national leader in blood banking and was the first in the U.S. to offer free cholesterol testing as a benefit to donors. In addition to providing the safest possible blood and blood components to patients, OBI offers many medical services and is involved in a variety of research projects, particularly in hematology and blood component therapy.

Volunteer Opportunities

OCMS provides opportunities for its physician members who want to volunteer in their community.