Beyond Barriers – Health Care
Eskenazi Health Foundation proudly supports Eskenazi Health’s initiatives that bring health care directly to the community. By funding the work of Community Weavers and Community Health Workers and helping enhance medical electronic health records, Eskenazi Health Foundation ensures care is coordinated, accessible and patient-centered.
HEALTH CARE
Where We Started
Basic access to care is undoubtedly one of the region’s greatest unmet needs. Barriers such as food insecurity, transportation and housing were challenges our most vulnerable neighbors simply could not overcome on their own. Reaching people required investment in both infrastructure and programming.
Where We Are Now
Since the start of the Beyond Barriers campaign, Eskenazi Health has:
- Established three Health Engagement Zones (HEZs) with formal partnerships:
- West 38th St./International Marketplace HEZ
- Thomas & Arlene Grande Campus/Northeast Corridor HEZ
- Grassy Creek/Far East HEZ
- Defined key Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) priorities for each HEZ with extensive community involvement and began implementing strategies to address them.
- Opened the new Thomas & Arlene Grande Campus in the Northeast Corridor HEZ.
- Developed a new workforce of Community Weavers, Community Health Workers and Doulas to enhance community outreach and support.
- Established the Regenstrief Center for Health Equity Research at Eskenazi Health (RCHER) through funding from the Regenstrief Foundation and launched a series of studies to evaluate the impact of integrating social care with medical care, including Health Engagement Zones and Food Is Medicine innovations.
- Screened 80% of patients for SDOH needs, leading to significant improvements in patient care.
Why Screening Matters
Learn how Eskenazi Health is screening for SDOH — identifying barriers, connecting patients to resources and improving community health and well-being.
