During National Hospital Week, we celebrate the profound impact hospitals, health systems and caregivers have — not only in healing patients, but in uplifting and strengthening entire communities.
Hospitals and health systems utilize their resources to respond to community needs by creating purposeful, effective programs and services that promote access to a healthier lifestyle and improve health outcomes. Through community outreach programs, hospitals and health systems offer educational programs, health screenings, mobile clinics, support groups, and more – going beyond critical and specialty care to improve holistic wellness in their surrounding neighborhoods.
This National Hospital Week, we acknowledge and celebrate this inspiring work at hospitals and health systems across the U.S.
University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH)
William Miller, a retired veteran who struggled to find a permanent residence after his home burned down, experienced serious health issues. He was in and out of the hospital with seizures and critical surgeries. Once out of the hospital, his living situation made lasting recovery difficult. The University of Maryland Shore Regional Health Shore Community Outreach Teams (SCOT) helped Miller overcome barriers to care. The team conducts outreach events including free health screenings, provides medical case management, and connects patients with necessary resources, including housing support. SCOT has helped other patients like Miller receive the resources they need so they can focus on making a full recovery and living a healthy life.
Last September, Patty Siuda and her granddaughter waited in their car to receive much-needed supplies for her granddaughter’s soon-to-be-born baby. They were the first in line for the Healthy Baby Network’s fifth annual Drive-Thru Baby Shower, hosted by UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital. The event provided Siuda’s granddaughter and hundreds of others with diapers, baby clothes, and even some strollers. The hospital partnered with Family Christian Health Center, Restoration Ministries, CeraVe, Huggies and Gifts from Liam to execute the event. “It is such an amazing feeling that we have a thumbprint on our community, where they know they can come to Ingalls and we’ll be able to provide them needed resources,” said Shanice Williams, OB Program Manager at Ingalls Memorial. The Drive-Thru Baby Shower has become a key part of Ingalls Memorial’s efforts to improve maternal and child health in the surrounding Chicago suburbs, where many women suffer disproportionately high rates of pregnancy-related complications and deaths.
Luna, an 8-year-old from Wimauma, Florida, travels to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital every week. After meeting with a speech-language pathologist to work on her reading and writing skills, Luna and her family make their way to the All Kids Campus Market for fresh groceries for the week. The market provides families with canned and dry goods, fresh produce, frozen meats, and more — at no cost. It was created to help patients and their families facing food insecurity in surrounding communities. “Access plays a huge part in healthy eating among a food-insecure population,” said Karen Diaz Serrano, the All Kids Campus Market program coordinator. Serrano is proud to provide fresh and healthy food to around 100 families every week.
To honor their child Brooklyn, Chantel and Colby Peterson participated in the opening of the new Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital Day Treatment Center in January. Brooklyn died by suicide at age 16 in 2019. The center, located in Utah, offers intensive care for children who struggle with mental health. Its opening came amid a 300% increase in pediatric mental health crises reported at emergency departments in Intermountain Health Hospitals in Utah. “She is so much more than her ending, however it is our hope that by sharing her story, we may keep her memory alive and advocate for the lives of others affected by mental health and suicide,” said Brooklyn’s dad, Colby. Natalie Ashby, president of Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital, said the Center fills an “important need” in the St. George area.
The Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare values healthcare workers’ selfless commitment to supporting local communities facing health risks. #NationalHospitalWeek