Community Health Happens Here

There is a lot of good Beacon Health System does for the community that may go unnoticed. Beyond the exceptional medical care we provide every day to the sick and injured, we are also committed to improving the health and well-being of others by addressing our region’s leading health concerns.

Elkhart General Community Health Outreach and Memorial Hospital’s Community Health Enhancement are leading the charge by identifying priority health issues that make a difference in the lives of many, especially the underserved members of our communities.
Both programs lead and support programs that educate people, provide tools and resources so people can adopt healthier lifestyles and remove barriers to ensure access to adequate health care.

The 2015 community health needs assessment wrapped up this summer — those findings will be shared with the community later this year. Until then, below are just some of the many things accomplished from 2013-2015 by Elkhart General Community Health Outreach and Memorial Hospital’s Community Health Enhancement as a result of the previous community health needs assessment.

MEMORIAL COMMUNITY HEALTH ENHANCEMENT:
Health Disparities
Unity Gardens has become an expert in connecting our community to healthy food; 22 of their 56 Unity Gardens focus on children, especially those from vulnerable populations.
Aging Population
Aging in Place has a nurse and life skills administrator to further facilitate independence and community building; eSeniorCare, a research program, studies the impact of technology and relationship building on quality of life for low-income seniors.
Early Childhood Development
The Early-Childhood Services umbrella of CHE includes: Sickle Cell Anemia screening and education, Prenatal Care Coordination, B.A.B.E. coupon store, Women, Infant and Children (WIC) nutrition program and WIC-sponsored breastfeeding programs.
Violence/Safety
A Trauma Liaison, working in Memorial Hospital’s ER and Trauma Unit, helps to decrease violent acts, the effects of violence and injury recidivism.

ELKHART GENERAL COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH:
Obesity
Community education efforts on various topics related to obesity, nutrition and exercise; obesity health coaching with Beacon Medical
Group Bittersweet Commons patients and Elkhart General’s Wellness at Work initiative.
Smoking
Inpatient bedside tobacco cessation counseling; physician education campaign on counseling smoking patients; community smoking cessation programming; collaborations with employers and with Elkhart County Tobacco Control; lung CT Scan promotion campaign; and risk avoidance curriculum in Elkhart County schools.
Access to Primary Care
Recruitment of primary care physicians; health screenings and referrals for at-risk populations; and an ED Case Manager to establish primary care referrals.
Access to Mental Health Services
Mental health coverage for low-income persons from Center for Healing and Hope; Elkhart General Lunch and Learn community education series; mental health information, resources and referrals for Hispanic Latino communities through Elkhart General Dame Tu Mano Hispanic Latino Health Outreach.