CLEVELAND — Editor's note: The video above was previously aired on March 21, 2022, about Dr. Amy Edwards of University Hospitals.
A new University Hospitals partnership with Unite Us will expand community health and social care throughout Ohio, helping to better connect patients with the services they need.
Officials say housing, food, transportation and employment are among the hardest things for some patients to secure. With the new partnership, a network of health and social care providers will provide the community with access to those resources.
“We are thrilled to partner with University Hospitals as we continue to expand the network to support individuals and connect them to much-needed resources," said Toni Cunningham, Unite Us State Network Director for Ohio. "Our team works collaboratively to support and train network partners that coordinate care no matter where in the state people live. Our goal is to increase equitable access to care and services."
Editor's note: The video above is from a previous story that aired on March 24, 2022.
The program will be composed of community partners from local and regional businesses, community organizations, churches, schools and other local health care organizations, according to the media release from University Hospitals.
“We know that the majority of health outcomes depend on factors beyond the walls of a hospital – food insecurity, housing, and social isolation,” said Peter Pronovost, MD, Ph.D., UH Chief Quality and Clinical Transformation Officer. “University Hospitals is excited for this partnership and opportunity to connect every patient to organizations that address these social determinants of health.”
Services from Unite Us will be available across all counties in Ohio where University Hospitals are present. University Hospitals Lake Health will not be included in the partnership until 2023 when they are integrated into the University Hospitals system.