Health care providers can only treat patients if we can reach them.
At Advocate Health, we find ways to remove the barriers that patients sometimes run into when seeking care. That can mean expanding eligibility for financial assistance, connecting patients with resources that address unmet social needs, and even deploying mobile clinics that literally meet patients where they are.
As our health system grows, we’re bringing more resources and expertise back home to the communities where our patients live. And with those reinvestments, patients are the real winners. In 2023, our community benefit exceeded $6 billion across the six states in which we operate. In addition to providing free and discounted care for low-income patients and addressing root causes of health inequities, we give back to our communities through a range of subsidized services like behavioral health and trauma-informed care, among other programs.
For example, following successes in other markets, we launched a mobile health team in Milwaukee. We knew patients needed us to come to them. Health outcomes vary significantly by zip code there, with white residents living an average of nearly 13 years longer than Black residents, according to a Milwaukee County Analysis.
We had to bridge the gaps in access and ensure continuity of care among people who can’t always get to our clinics and hospitals. So, we took free health screenings, immunizations, education and other services directly to them. The mobile clinic also plays a critical role in building the trust needed to help patients take better control of their own health.
“It’s no secret that the health care system can be complicated to navigate, and so we have to meet patients where they are in their journey to better health,” Carolyn McCarthy, a nurse practitioner with the Milwaukee mobile health team, says. “You can give a person a prescription, but they have to understand how to take their medication and how lifestyle, exercise and nutrition all play a role in maximizing health.”
That rings true no matter where or how care is delivered. Hospitals and health systems have a responsibility to ensure everyone has access to safe, high-quality care – be it through traditional settings, mobile clinics, home health, virtual visits or community-based partnerships.
Our hospitals, clinics and teammates are woven deeply into the fabrics of our communities, and so we’ll never stop thinking holistically about how we can best contribute to them. Our impact transcends the delivery of medical care. In 2023, we helped nearly 13,000 people experiencing food insecurity and invested in affordable housing units for those in need. And health systems like ours play a crucial role in solving the critical healthcare workforce shortage by training the next generation of care professionals and driving innovation through cutting-edge medical research and conducting clinical trials.
Investing in programs that promote social support, economic stability and education not only serves to improve health and well-being, but also leads to more equitable and resilient communities.
Every year, as we grow and evolve, we get closer to creating a future where everyone has the tools they need to thrive.