Community Support Task Force Combines Healthcare and Community Resources
Once a patient leaves the hospital their healthcare needs don’t end – whether ongoing or preventative. Mark Froimson, MD, President of Euclid Hospital, wants to make Euclid, Collinwood and the surrounding communities the “most healthy places to live and work, with citizens that are attuned to the best ways to remain healthy and prevent disease and access care when needed.”
Renee Marincic, Euclid Hospital patient care advocate, recently spoke to members of organizations in Euclid and Collinwood concerning the interest that Hospital caregivers have to partner with community services that can aid patients. “Patients who could also be your neighbor,” says Marincic.
A Community Support Task Force is formed
From that meeting, a Community Support Task Force (CSTF) was developed as a collaborative effort between Euclid Hospital and the City of Euclid. The Task Force will promote healthy living and activities, encourage health screenings and disease prevention and checking in on those in need – such as elderly neighbors.
The CSTF is comprised of Euclid Community Advisory Board members representing organizations such as: Euclid Hospital, The Salvation Army, Euclid Public Library, K&D Apartments, Euclid Hunger Center, Senior Independence and Our Lady of the Lake.
Kristel Grida, City of Euclid neighborhood engagement specialist, says the Task Force hopes to build a network of information and support resources to maximize care for residents. “We want to wrap our arms around the community to begin to care in a different way,” says Grida.
A shared goal
In time, the CSTF hopes to create a reference guide of available resources, design a home visitor program to combat loneliness and create nurse volunteer opportunities in the community. They also plan to have information available throughout the community about healthcare and other services.
Dr. Froimson believes “the Community Support Task Force will be able to unite community and hospital resources around a shared goal of improving the health of our residents by making sure they know where to turn for healthcare needs as well as other useful services.”
For more information about Euclid Hospital, visit euclidhospital.org.