Our Community Benefits Mission: Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers and UMass Memorial Health Care are committed to improving the health status of all those it serves and to addressing the health problems of the poor and other medically underserved populations. In addition, non-medical conditions that negatively influence the health and wellness of our communities are addressed. We aim to improve the health status of our communities by addressing some of the social, economic and political obstacles that prevent people from attaining optimal health.
Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers is focusing on the following target populations:
- Vulnerable populations of all ages (to help improve their health and well-being)
- Members of the general public who are uninsured/underinsured (to improve their access to care)
- Area residents (to help improve their health and well-being)
Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers is in the process of conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment, which will be completed in September of 2013. This assessment helps us identify the needs within our community and develop plans to address the challenges identified.
The assessment includes the following components:
- Interviews and focus groups with community-based organizations and residents
- Review of primary and secondary service area data
- Survey completed by residents
- Forums to share findings and release of final report
In FY 2011, Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers:
- continued to fund the part-time Public Health Nurse in Belchertown
- continued to fund the part-time nurse at the Palmer Senior Center
- assisted patients with enrolling in health care insurance and SNAP (food stamps)
- trained college students of area colleges and universities majoring in health care careers
- mentored high school students interested in pursuing a career in health care
- provided critical support to the Monson community devastated by June 1 tornado (including behavioral health and wellness checks)