Healthcare Access (HCA)
As the mission of Community Memorial Foundation (CMF) is to measurably improve the health of people who live and work in the western suburbs, it is committed to addressing healthcare access issues within the communities it serves. Traditionally, CMF has supported healthcare access through its Responsive Grants Program. In 2009, CMF has expanded its efforts in healthcare access, taking on a more proactive role by convening stakeholders and launching a new Community Healthcare Network. At the same time, CMF continues to participate in existing collaborations, contribute to organizational capacity building and assessment, and raise public awareness about healthcare access issues.
Organizations which CMF has recently convened on healthcare access issues in our communities include: Community Nurse Health Association, Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital, Pillars, Access DuPage, ACCESS Community Health Network, Loyola University Health System, Advocate Christ Hospital, MacNeal Hospital, Suburban Primary Health Care Council (Access to Care), Cook County Department of Public Health, Illinois Academy of Family Physicians, BlueCross/BlueShield of Illinois, Aetna, and local private physicians.
Examples of CMF’s recent healthcare access efforts include the development of theCommunity Healthcare Network of the Western Suburbs, the renovation and expansion of the Des Plaines Valley Health Center of Access Community Health Network, and collaboration with Access DuPage efforts. CMF’s efforts are strategically spread throughout its 27 community service area.
- Community Healthcare Network of the Western Suburbs
(La Coalicion de Salud de La Comunidad)
The Community Healthcare Network of the Western Suburbs delivers defined health services to low-income (< 200% of the federal poverty level), medically-uninsured adults between the ages of 19 and 64. The Network serves eligible residents in fourteen western Cook County communities – Brookfield, Countryside, Hodgkins, Indian Head Park, LaGrange, LaGrange Park, LaGrange Highlands, Lyons, McCook, Westchester, Western Springs, Willow Springs, and the Cook County portions of Burr Ridge and Hinsdale. These communities contain a diverse and quickly evolving array of individuals and families. Lyons Township and surrounding areas are experiencing population growth, and have one of the fastest-growing Latino populations. In these communities, there are approximately 2,779 persons 18-64 years old who are below 200% of the federal poverty level and uninsured.
Enrolled patient members are linked to a designated primary care medical home. Each patient is enrolled into the Network for one year increments (with eligibility for renewal) and receives a membership card that also serves as a pharmacy card. There is a $5 co-pay for office visits and labs, and a $10 co-pay for most medications. A model of on-site integration of physical and mental health services is employed. The Network coordinates existing local assets to produce a more efficient and comprehensive healthcare delivery system and to yield better overall health outcomes.
Current Network partners include Community Nurse Health Association (Network coordinator, central application and enrollment site, and initial medical home),Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital (labs, diagnostics, in-patient care and limited specialty care), Adventist LaGrange Family Medicine Center (second medical home beginning March 2010), Pillars (mental health services), Access DuPage (pharmacy services through CVS Caremark), Community Memorial Foundation (inaugural funder) and volunteer physicians both primary and specialists.
To learn more about the Network, please contact the Network Coordinator at Community Nurse Health Association at 708-352-0081.
- Access Community Health Network – Des Plaines Valley Health Center, Summit
ACCESS operates more than 50 federally qualified health centers in Chicago, Cook and DuPage Counties. Des Plaines Valley Health Center, located on 63rd Street, has served Summit and surrounding communities for more than 85 years, becoming affiliated with ACCESS in 2001. Between 2003 and 2008, its patient encounters grew an average of 11% annually, making an expansion necessary. CMF provided support for service expansion, which include a pediatrician, additional social work services, and more evening and weekend hours, as well as building renovation, which includes additional rooms for primary, specialty and behavioral health and patient education, and a larger waiting area for the facility. At Des Plaines Valley, patients have access to a full spectrum of healthcare services.
In DuPage County there are approximately 61,213 persons between the ages of 18-64 who are below 200% of the federal poverty level and uninsured. Since its inception in 2001, CMF has provided support to the Access DuPage Program, a collaborative effort that provides access to quality healthcare to more than 11,000 uninsured residents of DuPage County. Through this collaboration of hospitals, health clinics, physicians, local government, human service agencies and community groups, the uninsured have access to primary medical care, diagnostic services, inpatient services, prescription drugs and referrals to specialists. Major financial support is provided by DuPage County government and participating hospitals. Funds from CMF support the care of low-income residents from the southeastern DuPage communities of Darien, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Oakbrook, Westmont and Willowbrook.
- Westmont Clinic Exploration
CMF is currently in exploratory discussions with the DuPage Health Department, Access DuPage and DuPage Community Clinic (DCC) regarding the establishment of a DCC satellite site housed in the health department’s Westmont site in southeastern DuPage.