Collaboration is part of the cure
As planning continues for how to address the issues highlighted in the New London County Community Health Needs Assessment, there are a number of community partnerships already in place.
Cindy Barry, Assistant Director at Ledge Light Health District, recently teamed up with Backus Hospital to offer Wee Wheezers, a program to educate children and parents about asthma.
"Anytime you want to provide comprehensive services, you need to engage all the partners you can," Ms. Barry said. "In order to make healthcare available, you have to provide people with a way to open one door and be connected to wider resources in New London County."
She said a collective voice also is stronger for advocating for better healthcare and instituting policy changes. In the asthma program, for example, information is shared about different medications and programs in the region. A New London County Asthma Action Partnership also works with the Uncas Health District.
"Bringing people together is an opportunity to paint a complete picture of what is happening in the community," Ms. Barry said. "Backus was able to share emergency room and hospital admission data so we can set our goals for the future and help people manage their asthma before it becomes an emergency. By coming together we serve the community in the best way possible."
Anne Marie Mackin, Supervisor of the Community Outreach Services at United Community and Family Services, said these types of partnerships are critical. UCFS partners with Backus to provide the Access to Care Program, with an Access to Care Specialist available in the Backus Hospital Emergency Department.
The Access to Care Program provides free insurance eligibility screenings to uninsured clients seeking care in the Backus Hospital Emergency Department.
"We are reaching out to people where they are when they have nowhere else to turn," Ms. Mackin said.
"We have the ability to connect people with a medical home and community-based resources."
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To review an executive summary of the Community Healthy Needs Assessment, go to Patrick McCormack, Director of Health at the Uncas Health District, said these are important collaborations, as the hospital and the health districts are serving the same population.
"We are able to identify the needs of the community and make sure they are being met between the hospital and other resources," he said. "This allows us to bring new programs into the community."
One of the ongoing partnerships with Backus is through the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Program, which provides outreach and early detection programs for uninsured women.
"The community partners in Norwich work really well together. There has been a lot of change in the community in the past few years, which has given us a fresh perspective on health and public health in the community," Mr. McCormack said. "Now we need to identify the needs, prioritize them and determine how to address them together."