Churches work with hospitals to cut mortality rate

ASSIST News Service 

Hospitals and churches across the United States are joining forces to help improve health care and lower costs.
 
According to www.upi.com/Health_News , The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reports that U.S. hospitals are getting together with faith-based groups in an effort to improve care and cut costs, citing one health official with knowledge of the initiative.

The website says that OhioHealth worked with 43 local congregations for 20 years -- each congregation has a volunteer nurse trained in diabetes, nutrition, communicating with doctors and living with chronic diseases, who then shares the information with the congregants.

Mara Vanderslice Kelly, acting director of faith-based and neighborhood partnerships for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said another program at the Methodist LeBonheur Hospital in Memphis involves about 400 congregations. 

Volunteer liaisons from each church are trained to help patients understand doctors' instructions and ensure they get the next steps of care, the website stated.

The program saved the Memphis hospital $4 million, reduced mortality by 50 percent and reduced hospital re-admissions by 20 percent, Vanderslice Kelly said.