Jennie Edmundson's Caring For Our Communities Program Continues to Grow

A growing program led by Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital is available to help people overwhelmed by limited resources and complex — and often chronic — diseases.

Caring For Our Communities (CFOC) is available to all residents of southwest Iowa free of charge.

Initially created in 2012, CFOC connects individuals with recurring health problems with community health and behavioral health “coaches” who will, if the patient agrees, find appropriate health care, access existing community resources, obtain health-related education and affordable medications and navigate the health care exchange.

While Methodist Jennie Edmundson is a primary funder of the program, more than 30 key stakeholders and community partners take part in the CFOC’s efforts to link under-resourced individuals with available local resources. The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors joined the collaborative effort last week by allocating $45,000 to help fund a community health interventionist who will be officed at and partially funded by Connections Area Agency on Aging.

The Daily Nonpareil: Jennie's Caring For Our Community program offers helping hand