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Reaching

the Community,

One Patient at a Time.

239-658-3000
HealthcareSWFL.org

The grant allows Healthcare Network to hire six additional
full-time community health workers with the goal of reaching the
by Gabrielle O’Boyle underserved in areas including:
Marketing and Public Relations Director, Healthcare Network • Everglades City/Chokoloskee
• Golden Gate Estates/Orange Tree/Oil Well Road
uring the pandemic, Healthcare Network
• East Naples (Lely)
recognized early the need to provide
• Naples Manor/Bayshore/Shadowlawn
Dculturally and language-appropriate
• North Naples
information about COVID-19, particularly in
The team will continue door-to-door visits and work with the
remote, vulnerable communities.
Healthcare Network’s Chronic Care Management team and other
To meet the needs, Healthcare Network
professionals with referrals. In addition, the team will plan mini-
established the COVID-19 Response Team,
health fairs, health education events and workshops and continue
a community-based health care team in
to manage a resource line to answer questions from the community
Immokalee. With support from local partners, the team went
and provide information. Home visits also allow the team to address
door-to-door to reach farmworkers, develop trust and break down
some issues that impact health by connecting families with local
barriers to care, creating a blueprint for other similarly underserved
resources for physical and mental health, transportation, food and
and marginalized communities.
housing assistance.
From September 2020 through January 2022 the Response
For 45 years, Healthcare network has distinguished itself by
Team has had the following impact in Immokalee, home to many
providing primary health care to men, women and children of all
immigrant and migrant families.
ages, helping the disenfranchised, underinsured and uninsured of
• Number of COVID-19 tests administered: 14,660 our communities, as well as those with insurance and resources who
• Number of farmworkers and/or family members contacted recognize the quality and comprehensiveness of care available.
through home visits: 8,354
In addition to the outreach team, the Ronald McDonald Care
• Estimated number of PPE distributed to farmworkers including Mobile® has been out in the community since 2004 to provide
face masks, gloves, face shields and hand sanitizers: 23,014 packages
medical and dental care to at-risk children throughout Collier
• Number of calls handled by COVID-19 team: 5,719 County. The mobile Health & Smiles dental clinic has also provided
• Number of health center and social services referrals: 1,345 a wide range of oral health services to all ages at 20 different sites
• Number of farmworkers and/or family members vaccinated: 4,259 from Immokalee to Everglades City.
• Number of food deliveries: 1,047 The mobile units and outreach team continue to help address
These efforts toward creating health equity will be recognized
barriers to care, such as lack of financial resources, transportation or
in May with the 2022 Outstanding Migrant Health Center Award
time to travel to Healthcare Network’s physical facilities in Naples,
from the National Association of Community Health Centers.
Immokalee and the Nichols Community Health Center in Golden
Through their work, the Healthcare Network team also
Gate.
recognized the need to continue to take care of the community
You can help Healthcare Network address healthcare disparities
beyond the pandemic. A three-year grant funded by the Centers
and make Collier County healthier for all at HealthcareSWFL.org/
for Disease Control and Prevention and administered by Collier
Donate.
County’s Community and Human Services Division has allowed
the COVID-19 Response Team to expand and become Healthcare
About the Author
Network’s Outreach Team. The team will continue to provide
Gabrielle O’Boyle is the marketing and public relations director for
COVID-19 support as needed, as well as address other conditions
Healthcare Network, a nonprofit organization committed to ensuring
in the community such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.
quality healthcare is accessible to everyone in our community. Celebrating
45 years of care, Healthcare Network has locations throughout Collier
County.
48 Life in Naples | May, June, July 2022