NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Working with hundreds of community partners across the region, Southcoast Health invested $22 million in community benefits in 2014, according to its most recent report filed annually with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office. The funds went towards efforts to reduce smoking, help residents lose weight, improve diet, avoid diabetes, detect cancer and heart disease, and help address pressing health equity issues such as chronic homelessness. In addition to programs and services, almost $10 million of these funds went directly to charity care which supports the region’s most vulnerable residents.

“As a not-for-profit health system, we are driven by our mission of promoting the optimal health and well-being of individuals in the communities we serve. Safeguarding and improving the health of hundreds of thousands of individuals and families in the South Coast region is a passion and commitment that we take very seriously,” said Keith Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Health. “As the region’s leading provider of healthcare, we know that improving the health of our population results in lower costs for all of us – and a far better quality of life for South Coast residents.”

As a not-for-profit healthcare provider, Southcoast Health takes care of all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. And as a non-profit, Southcoast Health files an annual Community Benefits report with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office detailing work that helps residents improve their health.

Southcoast Health staff work with local communities to identify the region’s top healthcare issues and needs, analyzing health data and also seeking extensive input from community partners and residents themselves. The South Coast, particularly in urban areas, has higher-than-state-average rates of obesity, smoking, heart disease, lack of health insurance and teen pregnancy.

“We determine where our region needs our investment and how that investment can best transform and improve lives,” said Kerry Mello, Southcoast Health Community Benefits Manager. “All of this work is done in partnership with committed partners, including other non-profits, city and civic leaders, the faith based community and businesses. We are fortunate to be part of a region where all work tirelessly and collaboratively to help their neighbors.”

Among the highlights of 2014’s efforts:

• 21,000 health screenings for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer to 3,300 vulnerable residents were conducted on the Southcoast Wellness Van, a mobile health unit.
• 4,000 teens in 12 area schools were educated on issues of teen pregnancy and other risks to youth.
• 9,000 residents were assisted in securing or keeping health insurance.
• Over 100 community partners collaborated on a behavioral health assessment to determine the needs and capacity of the region on issues of substance abuse and mental health. This resulted in creation of a regional database of behavioral health resources.
• Dozens of working fishermen were provided cancer screenings on the waterfront.

One success story emerging from several years of work by Southcoast Health and its partners is a dramatic decline in smoking among New Bedford residents. New Bedford has traditionally had smoking rates far higher than the state average, but after working with the YMCA through Voices for a Healthy Southcoast, public housing officials, city leaders and others, there is measureable improvement with the rate dropping from 28.4 percent to below 20 percent.

Another on-going project for Southcoast Health and its partner organizations involves the disturbing rate of chronic homelessness in Wareham. Working with the Wareham Coalition to Prevent and End Homelessness, efforts are underway to target and assist individuals in the community who experience chronic homelessness.

In the area of diet and nutrition, the Community Benefits Report highlights steps being undertaken to connect vulnerable urban populations with the kind of fresh, health vegetables and fruits that are often hard to find in cities. Southcoast Health is working with area farmers and community groups to set up easily accessible farmers’ markets and Community Supported Agriculture programs.

Information on the range of community benefits programs and services can be found at http://www.southcoast.org/news/benefits/.