Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System have reached a key milestone in their Better Together partnership with the launch of a dedicated call center aimed at streamlining access to healthcare services for residents across Broward County.
“Better Together has gained significant momentum as the initiative’s governance committee has convened every month to focus on existing needs related to primary care, maternal health and food insecurity,” said Shane Strum, President & CEO of Broward Health and Interim CEO of Memorial Healthcare System. “The committee, comprised of leaders from Broward Health, Memorial Healthcare System and other community organizations, is identifying barriers people are facing to access these resources and innovative ways we can meet their needs.”
Residents can now call 844-711-0794, and a representative will link them to primary or maternity care services, such as brick-and-mortar physician offices or mobile health units, in convenient and easily accessible locations.
“This call center is more than just a phone number; it’s a lifeline for families who have struggled to navigate the complexity of healthcare,” said Melida Akiti, corporate transformation executive at Broward Health. “By listening to our community and working collaboratively with partners across the county, we’re removing barriers and bringing care directly to those who need it most.”
Working together, Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System are addressing the most urgent healthcare challenges impacting our community, which will ultimately lead to improved outcomes, including:
- Fewer patients presenting at Emergency Departments because of a lack of primary care physician.
- Fewer Broward County residents with uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes.
- More mothers receiving prenatal care in their first trimester of pregnancy.
- Fewer babies born with low birth weights.
- More people connected to food resources or assistance programs.
- Fewer households facing meal deficits.
“Access to nutritious food is foundational to good health,” said Paco Vélez, president and CEO of Feeding South Florida. “We’re building a network of support that recognizes food insecurity as a key social determinant of health, ensuring families across Broward County can access the resources they need to thrive.”
Another exciting development is Better Together’s new agreement with the University of Florida to capture detailed block-level data across Broward County. By gathering data at the city block level, rather than by zip code, we’re gaining a more precise and nuanced view of who lives in our community. This advanced analysis will guide the governance committee in making data-driven decisions regarding where to direct resources.
This pioneering initiative is already gaining national attention. America’s Essential Hospitals, the nation’s leading advocate for people facing barriers to healthcare access, recently visited the two healthcare systems in hopes of replicating this unique delivery model at other safety-net hospitals across the country. We are proud to serve as an example of how to utilize forward-thinking methods to bring care to the people most in need.
“We’re proud to be part of this powerful coalition of community leaders who are coming together with purpose and urgency,” said Loreen Chant, president and CEO of the Health Foundation of South Florida. “By aligning efforts and resources across organizations like Memorial Healthcare System and Broward Health, we’re not only identifying critical gaps in care, but we’re also working to close them.”
For more information about Better Together, visit BrowardHealth.org/BetterTogether or MHS.net/BetterTogether.
