Healthvisions Midwest Inc

HealthVisions Midwest is a faith-based community health organization that works within communities served by Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ or where called to with other partners.  HealthVisions has been active in Lake County since 1998.

HealthVisions Midwest offers prenatal care coordination assistance and services free-of-charge in East Chicago, Gary and surrounding communities. Two programs, Promotores de Salud Maternal e Infantil in East Chicago and Great Beginnings in Gary, work with medically and socially high risk pregnant women and mothers. A Prenatal Care Coordinator and Community Health Workers work with the women in the programs to ensure they receive the care and referrals needed for a healthy mom and healthy baby at delivery.

The women served have limited resources to obtain the necessities for their new babies. The program is always in need of car seats, strollers, pack-n-plays, crib sheets, receiving blankets, onesies, diapers, wipes and infant toiletries. Recently, the family of one of the clients was displaced due to a fire in the home. Through donations, Promotores de Salud Maternal e Infantil was able to help the family purchase needed food and toiletries after the fire.

HealthVisions also serves the older adult population in East Chicago. Bridges to Wellness is a collaboration with St. Catherine's Hospital to help patients self-manage their chronic disease. A Care Coordinator and a Community Health Worker guide patients through the transition from hospital to home through visits and phone calls over a period of four weeks hoping to avert a re-entry into the hospital. During review of discharge instructions and education on how and why to take medications, clients often express the need for help with purchasing medications.

Recently, a Mother of 3 had open-heart surgery; Dad was out of work. Mom needed several medications following her surgery. The Community Health Worker learned that choices were being made between putting food on the table and buying medication.  Not having the co-pay for all of the medications and food, Mom bought food and disregarded the medication.  Healing from the surgery was thwarted.

Bridges to Wellness wants to keep clients from having to make a choice between food on the table and needed medication to manage their chronic disease.