Partners in Care has been recognized at this year’s U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Innovates Awards, for its involvement in the collaborative innovation project, Linking Health Care & Community Services.
The HHS Innovates Awards recognize creative solutions developed by HHS employees in response to some of the nation’s most challenging problems in health, health care, and government.
Partners was acknowledged for its work with the Administration for Community Living, The John A. Hartford Foundation, and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, to create a learning collaborative aimed at creating better links between health care and community services, and improving the business acumen of community organizations.
The increased opportunities for integrated care provided by the Affordable Care Act, have broadened the understanding of what constitutes ‘health care’ to encompass the social issues that affect a person’s health. Increasingly, providers and payers are looking to collaborate with community-based social services providers, particularly in the support of older adults and people with disabilities. Unfortunately, many community organizations lack the business expertise needed to contract with health systems.
This is the gap that the collaborative innovation project, Linking Health Care & Community Services, has been helping community providers to bridge. Organizations learn how to build business capacity and develop the skills to effectively contract with integrated health care entities.
Commenting on the award and the success of the initiative, June Simmons, Partners in Care’s CEO said, “Innovation and collaboration are the cornerstones of our work. Coordinating the work of community-based social service providers attuned to the cultural and linguistic needs of the local population, with the work of medicine, not only creates significantly better health outcomes, at reduced cost, but also contributes to improved patient satisfaction and member retention.”
Partners in Care Foundation is a non-profit center of innovation whose mission is to change the shape of health care. We pursue our mission by developing and advancing transformational models of care that promote health, independence and quality of life.
For more information on the Linking Health Care & Community Services, contact us at (818) 837-3775.
