b'COMMUNITY HEALTHFrom Overwhelmed to Empowered: CFHC Navigators Connect Patients to Critical Resourcesby RYAN MILEJCZAKsponsored by Central Florida Health CareT aking care of your health and wellness cannumber of ways they help patients is nothingApplicationCounselors.AstheEnabling feeloverwhelming,especiallyforthoseshort of impressive.Services Coordinator, my job is to train this whoarealsostrugglingtoputfoodonWe do so much for the community, Perezteam of expert navigators on their daily duties, the table or keep a roof over their heads. Al- says.explains Perez. though resources exist to help people facingPartofthenavigatorsjobisconnectingThis training consists of courses, certifications, these challenges, many are unaware of thempatients with resources CFHC has internally:readings,one-on-onemeetings,anda or unsure how to access them. Even if theyprimarycareproviders,specialists,pediatricmeeting every three months to bring together do know where to turn, it can be daunting tocare, dental care, and more. But they knowdifferent resources for the community. navigate the process alone. health doesnt start and end at the clinic doors. ThatswhyCentralFloridaHealthCarehasI had a patient come in for the first time who navigators to help its patients find and accessNavigatorsalsohelpthecommunitywithwasaround82yearsold,Perezrecounts. social needs they may have, Perez explains.She told me she was struggling with a lack the resources they need.For example, we can help them find resources CFHCnavigatorsarethepeoplethathelpfor food insecurity or well help them renewof food. I looked into it, and it turned out she connect individuals and families in need withtheir SNAP. was receiving food stamps, but a very small resources,support,andservices,explainsamount.DianaPerez,EnablingServicesCoordinatorOther examples include connecting patientsAshorttimebeforethis,arepresentative withresourcesforhousing,transportation, and navigator. The navigator is the key personhealthinsurance,andevenhelpforthosehad come by the office for a program that in each CFHC clinic. exposedtoviolence.Butnavigatorsdoprovidesmonthlystipendstomedicare As a Patient Centered Medical Home, CFHCmore than just inform patients about thesepatients for paying bills and buying groceries. isfocusedonacollaborativeapproachtoresources:theyalsoworkonthepatientsPerezrememberedthisandknewjustthe healthcare that brings their team together asbehalf to help them through the process.solution for this patient.a family, and the patient is part of that family.We can do applications for them and makeI called her and told her that I think I have We want patients to have the best experiencethephonecalls.Wecanhelpthemwithaprogramthatcanhelpyouout.Ihelped ever, she says. We are here to help them, sotransportation and schedule the appointmentsherthroughtheprocessofchangingher they can feel comfortable and that they havefor them to come here to CFHC or to go seeinsuranceandgettingthisbenefit,andthat a personan experthere who is like familyspecialists, Perez says. Its a big job! next time she came in she was so happy. I to them. In order to take on this big job, CFHC ensuressaw the biggest, most beautiful smile I had Every CFHC clinic location has a navigator onthenavigatorsarewellqualifiedandwelleverseen.Thatsjustoneofhundredsof its team who works as a liaison between thetrained.stories that we navigators have of how weve community and healthcare providers, and theAll the navigators here at CFHC are Certifiedhelped our community.Behavioral Health Dental Health HIV Nutritional Health OB/GYN Optometry Pediatrics Pharmacy Primary Care Social ServicesWalk-ins Welcome 866.234.8534'