| Catholic Health East : Best Practices | |||||||||||||
| Catholic Health East Best Practice Narrative RHC: Holy Cross Hospital |
Category: Developing Healthier Communitie Contact: John C.
Johnson |
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| Description of the Best Practice &
Implementation The Community Outreach Program is an innovative response to a local community’s needs. Responding to a series of focus groups conducted by an independent agency, key areas of community needs were identified. Over a three year period of time, significant strides have been made in reaching and providing quality health care services to children, the poor, and senior communities. Today in Broward County, over 21% of children have no health benefit coverage (private insurance or Medicaid). In response to this gap in service, an agreement was formulated with the local Archdiocese. Through their Department of Schools, five elementary parochial schools were targeted to pilot the Holy Cross School Health Services program. Schools were assigned based upon students’ financial need and lack of access to health care. Over the past two years, nurses have provided direct health care service, screening (vision, hearing, speech, scoliosis), immunization and education (for no charge) to over 1.500 students. Nurses have become an integrated part of the school community and student immunization compliance rates near 95%. In addition, absenteeism and rates of students leaving school due to illness have decreased within the past year to less than 15%. In an attempt to provide health care services to one of the poorest cities within Broward County, a family clinic, The Holy Cross Family Life Center, was opened in Pompano. The clinic provides primary health care services to neighborhood residents at low and no cost. Most of the residents are recent immigrants from Haiti, Central America and Cuba. Many do not know how or where to access health care, are unable to communicate with English-only speaking clinic staff, lack of funds necessary to obtain care and the ability to read in order to apply for financial aid. The Holy Cross Family Life Center removes these barriers to care by providing tri-lingual health care services, case management, health education and a user friendly atmosphere within the client’s neighborhood. To date, the clinic has successfully provided over 10,000 clinic visits to over 1,000 individuals and their family members. As a result of these visits, significant health care findings have been identified and individuals entered into care. Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension and HIV have not only been diagnosed but individuals are taught to appropriately care for themselves and take charge of their personal health status. In 1998, Holy Cross expanded its Community Outreach Program and its mission to the elderly community. The Parish Nurse program was developed, senior parishes targeted and agreements with local community parishes established. The efforts of this program have yielded acclamatory results. Celebrating its first year of services, over 500 parishioners and community members have been provided health screening, education, support, advocacy and referrals for appropriate health care. In addition to providing services at the parish sites, nurses visit homebound seniors, individuals in nursing homes and the hospital and provide a direct link and liaison between elderly individuals and their family members in various states within the country and abroad. Time Frame Financial Profile Holy Cross Support: $800,000; $1,611,313.00 since 1997 Other Funding Sources: The Sisters of Mercy Fund Outcome
Supporting Data Best Practice Narrative is limited to a one page
summary. |
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