Wake Forest Baptist Health’s Supporters of Health

Wake Forest Baptist Health is working in Forsyth County, N.C. to improve health and reduce re-admissions and charity care costs for the hospital. In 2014, the hospital trained former environmental service workers as community health workers. The community health workers receive referrals from hospital staff when patients are discharged and from agencies outside the hospital, and then work with the referred patients, connecting them to community resources. Partners include faith communities, social services agencies, safety-net clinics, and the hospital’s care transitions and pastoral care staff. The program has reduced hospital re-admissions. Wake Forest is funding this work through its foundation. To read more about this innovative program, see this brief summary [link].