PHYSICIANS CARE CONNECTION

PHYSICIANS AND OTHER EXPERTS DEDICATED TO OPTIMIZING THE HEALTH OF THOSE MOST VULNERABLE (ANY PERSON WHO HAS HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES DUE TO INDIVIDUAL BARRIERS) IN CENTRAL OHIO IS THE MISSION OF PHYSICIANS CARECONNECTION (PCC). PHYSICIANS CARECONNECTION (PCC) SPECIALIZES IN HEALTH AND RELATED SOCIAL NEEDS THAT DIRECTLY INFLUENCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE. THIS IS DONE BY PROVIDING HIGH TOUCH CARE COORDINATION WHICH INCLUDES CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES. FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE THIS TYPE OF COORDINATION REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES. INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE WITH HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES ARE SCREENED FOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH STATUS, FOOD INSECURITY, HOUSING STABILITY, AND OTHER SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH (I.E. UTILITY ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION, INTERPRETATION NEEDS ETC.).POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT, POOR NUTRITION, SUBSTANDARD HOUSING, LIMITED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHRONIC STRESS ARE ALL BARRIERS TO THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE. OUR STAFF AND LEADERSHIP UNDERSTAND THAT THE ISSUE IS NOT JUST HEALTHCARE, IT IS THE NUMBER OF RISK FACTORS OUTSIDE OF HEALTHCARE THAT IMPACTS AN INDIVIDUAL'S WELLBEING.BY PROVIDING PEOPLE CENTERED CARE COORDINATION, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE CONNECTIONS TO RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. ESTABLISHED IN 1993, BY THE COLUMBUS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION TO ENABLE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE QUALITY HEALTHCARE FOR THOSE MOST IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY; PCC HAS ACHIEVED SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS THROUGH OUR UNIQUE MODEL OF PEOPLE CENTERED CARE COORDINATION.OUR INTENT IS TO PROVIDE INCREASED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE GO WITHOUT IT. OUR APPROACH IS INDIVIDUALIZED, AND RESOURCE COORDINATION CATERS TO THE INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY BEING SERVED. THE GOAL IS TO "FOCUS," ON NEEDS AND ADDRESS THEM EVEN IF IT INVOLVES MORE THAN ONE SOLUTION.THE TARGET POPULATION FOR OUR SERVICES IS ANY PERSON (AT RISK FAMILIES) EXPERIENCING A HEALTH CARE CHALLENGE AND A SOCIAL BARRIER. THIS INCLUDES WORKING POOR, IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS (DOCUMENTED AND UNDOCUMENTED), PEOPLE WITH GAPS IN MEDICARE COVERAGE, MEDICAID PENDING/ELIGIBLE, PREGNANT WOMEN, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID AND DUE TO THEIR INCOME ARE EXEMPT FROM HAVING TO OBTAIN INSURANCE THROUGH THE MARKETPLACE, PATIENTS ENROLLED IN THE MARKETPLACE, PATIENTS WITH HIGH DEDUCTIBLE CATASTROPHIC COVERAGE, FOOD INSECURE FAMILIES, AND FAMILIES FACING EVICTION.IN 2023, WE ASSISTED 2,652 VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS IN SCHEDULING 2,792 MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, INCLUDING PRIMARY CARE, SPECIALTY CARE, DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES, DENTAL CARE, AND PRENATAL CARE. WE PROVIDED OVER 9,000 SERVICE ENCOUNTERS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS IN ACCESSING EMERGENCY RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS CONNECTIONS TO MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION, INTERPRETER SERVICES, PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT, AND FOOD ASSISTANCE.