In 2006, hospital leaders across the country received their first Community Connections resource—a collection of programs that demonstrate the various ways hospitals provide for and benefit their communities. This case example book is the sixth in a series and highlights many more innovative programs. For more examples or to share your own story, visit www.caringforcommunities.org. Photos in this publication are courtesy of Doug Haight, photographer, and illustrate programs from recent Foster G. McGaw Prize-winning organizations. Since 1986, the Foster G. McGaw Prize has honored health delivery organizations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to community service. The 2011 Prize is sponsored by The Baxter International Foundation, the American Hospital Association and the Health Research & Educational Trust. T oday, more than 5,000 This book highlights the unique and hospitals of all kinds — innovative ways hospitals are doing urban and rural, large this work. Far from a comprehensive and small — are making their list, Community Connections begins communities healthier in ways to illustrate where and how hospitals that are as diverse as the needs are meeting their communities’ many of each community. The men and needs. The stories cover four broad women who work in hospitals are categories: not just mending bodies. Their work ‹ Social and Basic Needs extends far beyond the literal and ‹ Health Promotion figurative four walls of the hospital ‹ Access and Coverage to where free clinics, job training ‹ Quality of Life efforts, smoking cessation classes, Every day in America’s hospitals, there back-to-school immunizations, is tremendous good being done. The literacy programs, and so many instantly recognizable blue and white others are brought directly to the “H” sign signifies more than a place people of the community… often that patients and families can depend with very little fanfare. on for care. It signifies the heart of a community. ‹ Social and Basic Needs .............................................................................................................3 ‹ Health Promotion ......................................................................................................................11 ‹ Access and Coverage ..............................................................................................................19 ‹ Quality of Life ...............................................................................................................................27 ‹ Index .....................................................................................................................................................33 communityconnections 1 2 American Hospital Association Non-medical needs are often intricately tied to personal health and well-being. Hospitals are working to address basic, social and personal needs as a way to improve their communities’ health. The programs described on the following pages illustrate approaches hospitals are taking to meet the basic needs of everyday life, from food and shelter to education and self-reliance, ultimately improving the long-term health of communities. communityconnections 73 S o c i a l a n d B a s i c N e e d s ‹ Baptist Health Medical Center – Little Rock, ‹ Brattleboro Memorial Hospital – Brattleboro, Arkansas Vermont Program: Heaven’s Loft Program: New Moms Network What is it? This program incentivizes expectant What is it? The New Moms Network is a free service mothers and parents of young children to receive of the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) Birthing prenatal and well-baby care and attend classes Center. Moms meet weekly for 1.5 hours; programs on childbirth, breastfeeding, infant/child care and range from handling a crying baby to immunizations parenting. For their participation, parents earn to fire safety. New moms are able to network and vouchers that can be used for needed baby supplies. support each other and learn from community experts Who is it for? Low-income, expectant mothers and who provide education each week. parents of young children. Who is it for? Area new moms and dads. Why do they do it? The program assists any parent Why do they do it? Rural mothers often experience who needs help getting items for his or her child isolation. BMH chose to reach out as a part of their as long as they have utilized the services of a women’s health initiative, which includes education participating physician’s office or health agency. and resources for women throughout their lifespan. Impact: In 2009, more than 2,500 women and Impact: About 12 to 15 mothers from three states children visited Heaven’s Loft for service. Participants attend weekly with their babies. Breastfeeding rates redeemed approximately 11,000 vouchers for cribs and have exceeded Healthy People 2010 goals; area mattresses, diapers, baby clothes, other necessities and maternal child programs thrive with added exposure toys. Additionally, more than 150 infant/child car seats to their programs. are given to parents each year. Contact: Dawn Kersula, RN Contact: Teresa Conner Perinatal Specialist, The Birthing Center Manager, Community Outreach Telephone: 802-257-8278 Telephone: 501-202-2815 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] ‹ Castle Medical Center – Kailua, Hawaii ‹ Baptist Memorial Hospital Union City – Union Program: Kahiau – To Give Generously City, Tennessee What is it? Kahiau means, “To give generously Program: Hometown Walk of Hope or lavishly from the heart, without expectation of What is it? This year-long community effort centers return.” The project helps local, at-risk individuals around a walking event that utilizes corporate and families that have an emergent, non-medical sponsors and teams to raise money, and helps meet need. Hospital associates identify those in need, the needs of Obion County residents who have Chaplain Services reviews the cases, and then been diagnosed with cancer. Funds are used for unique projects are created to meet selected needs. medication, medical and utility bills as well as other Who is it for? Area at-risk individuals and families. necessary expenses. Why do they do it? The problems of the homeless, the Who is it for? Area residents who have cancer. near-homeless and at-risk seniors and children have Why do they do it? Local cancer patients need grown phenomenally in Hawaii. Recent reports name financial help. Hawaii as one of 10 states with the highest rate of homelessness. Impact: The Walk of Hope has raised $1.3 million over 10 years, and helps approximately 50 patients Impact: Targeted interventions, such as repairing per month. The hospital has been a lead sponsor homes to be safe and livable, are a viable way of since the Walk’s inception, and has—with its staff— combating the multifaceted problems many near- contributed more than $90,000. homeless individuals face. Contact: Kara Ward Contact: David Rasmussen Director, Marketing and Public Relations Director, Pastoral Care Department Telephone: 731-884-8750 Telephone: 808-222-3259 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] 4 American Hospital Association ‹ Catholic Medical Center – Manchester, ‹ Hartford Hospital – Hartford, Connecticut New Hampshire Program: LIFE STAR Medical Transport: DUI Program: Health Care for the Homeless Program (HCH) Awareness for Teens What is it? Catholic Medical Center’s HCH Program is What is it? To educate students about the dangers a “clinic without walls” that provides primary medical of distracted and drunk driving, prom-time care, mental health care, nursing case management, presentations are made to high school students addiction counseling, social services and health about decision-making. Some presentations include education to homeless individuals and families mock crash drills and are conducted with the Fire on-site at clinics located in shelters and transitional Department and EMS staff. housing programs. Who is it for? Area high school students. Who is it for? Homeless individuals and families in Why do they do it? During prom season, the Manchester. hospital-based LIFE STAR Air Ambulance team Why do they do it? Established in 1988, HCH is sees an increase in young adult injuries from auto based on an innovative program developed in 1969 accidents. by Philip W. Brickner, MD, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Impact: LIFE STAR’s training reached more than New York City. 1,000 high school students at 12 high schools Impact: The HCH team collaborates with many local this year. School administrators find this service health care providers and human service agencies to so beneficial that the program is requested by an increase access to health care for more than 1,000 increasing number of schools each year. people struggling with homelessness. Contact: William Muskett, RRT, EMTP Contact: Marianne Savarese Outreach Coordinator, LIFE STAR Project Director, Health Care for the Homeless Program Telephone: 860-337-1519 Telephone: 603-663-8716 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] ‹ Immanuel St. Joseph’s—Mayo Health System ‹ Colorado Plains Medical Center – Fort – Mankato, Minnesota Morgan, Colorado Program: Health Care Career Promotion Program: Backpacks for Needy Children What is it? The hospital’s career programs expose What is it? Hospital employees contributed students to the countless heath career options backpacks, filling them with various school supplies available. Middle school students participate in the for area children in need. health careers’ two-day summer camp; high school students acquire knowledge of hospital-based health Who is it for? Students at four Morgan County school careers during career day tours; and college students districts. participate in a 128-hour job shadow program Why do they do it? It’s exciting for children to have throughout the hospital. new things to start the new school year. Having Who is it for? Middle school, high school and college adequate school supplies helps children achieve a students. positive mindset for the year. Why do they do it? Students learn about a variety of Impact: For the past three years, more than 70 career options in the health care field and are provided backpacks have been purchased annually and filled instruction and support in their career pathway. with paper, pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks and other items. Students, their families and school Impact: Four hundred students from middle administrators are grateful for these gifts. school, high school and college participate in hospital-sponsored career promotion programs Contact: Sandy Engle each year. Director, Marketing and Community Relations Telephone: 970-542-3346 Contact: Human Resources Generalist E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 507-385-2632 E-mail: [email protected] communityconnections 5 S o c i a l a n d B a s i c N e e d s ‹ Inova Health System – Springfield, Virginia ‹ Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center (JHCHC) and River Region Medical Center Program: Inova Juniper Program (IJP) (RRMC) – Vicksburg, Mississippi What is it? Helping people living with HIV/AIDS, IJP provides a full complement of comprehensive Program: Project Re-Direct outpatient ambulatory medical care; nurse and What is it? JHCHC and RRMC are collaborating to social work medical case management; mental educate the community about the benefits of having health services; substance abuse counseling; a medical home. The project coordinator meets with specialty medical care; oral health care; nutritional eligible patients in the emergency department (ED) to services; and medical transportation. IJP staff explain the benefits of having a medical home at the manage clients through the complete life cycle of health center, where patients can receive follow- their disease, with the goal of enhancing quality of up care, ongoing care for chronic conditions and life by helping them to maintain health and delay preventive care and screenings. the onset of disease and disability. Who is it for? Uninsured and underserved residents Who is it for? Uninsured or underinsured people of central Mississippi. living with HIV in northern Virginia. Why do they do it? The inappropriate use of a hospital Why do they do it? The region has many individuals ED for routine medical treatment creates unnecessary living with HIV/AIDS. expense to both the hospital and to the community. Impact: In 2009, the program collaborated with Impact: Services include adult medicine, pediatrics, several local agencies to provide services to obstetrics, gynecology, social services and Medicaid 1,221 clients. screening. For patients who are not eligible for Contact: Karen Berube Medicaid or Medicare, there is a sliding-fee scale and Director discount prescription medications. The Mississippi Telephone: 703-321-2623 Primary Health Care Association provides funding for E-mail: [email protected] this project. Contact: Jasmin Chapman, DDS ‹ Jackson Hospital and Clinic – Montgomery, Chief Executive Officer, JHCHC Alabama Telephone: 601-364-5142 E-mail: [email protected] Program: Sports Medicine Physicals What is it? In cooperation with the Alabama ‹ Lee Memorial Health System – Fort Myers, Orthopaedic Specialists and Rehab Associates, the hospital offers free sports physicals to student Florida athletes throughout Montgomery. Children receive Program: Community-based Alternatives to the comprehensive sports physicals including screenings Emergency Department for height and weight; heart and lungs; vision, blood What is it? A consortium of community pressure, flexibility; and an examination by a physician. representatives, led by Lee Memorial Hospital, Who is it for? Approximately 2,000 student athletes conducted a community needs assessment, which participating in inter-scholastic sports during the school found a lack of appropriate behavioral health care year; all are eligible for a free physical. services and a need for primary care treatment. Why do they do it? This free community service project Who is it for? Area residents who have multiple helps parents and coaches ensure that students are behavioral health care and social service needs, healthy and can participate in athletic programs. many of whom are referred by law enforcement or Impact: Some 1,560 student athletes were given a hospital emergency departments (EDs). physical in 2010. Nearly 100 individuals (physicians, Why do they do it? The Fort Myers area has higher-than- nurses, trainers and non-clinicians) give of their time average rates of suicide, substance abuse, homicide to provide services at a central location one Saturday and accidental deaths. Further, the community lacked in May. alternatives to incarceration for minor offenses, such as Contact: Charles Lee inpatient psychiatric beds, mental health providers and Sports Medicine Director substance abuse treatment options. Telephone: 334-293-8966 Impact: A wide range of health and human services E-mail: [email protected] were brought together in a Behavioral Triage Center/ Low Demand Shelter to meet various needs and help individuals avoid unnecessary ED visits as well as arrest and possible incarceration. 6 American Hospital Association