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A Storm of Compassion

Healthcare Network can make a difference beyond the walls of our health centers.

by Jaime Ulmer,
President and CEO of Healthcare Network
water and other essential items. They made phone calls and home
ince 1977, Healthcare Network has fought visits to our most vulnerable patients and provided medical and
to eliminate social disparities in Collier mental health support and administered free tetanus vaccines to
SCounty. prevent disaster cleanup related infections.
This work became more important than Before our team’s arrival, Healthcare Network patient Margarita
ever when the community was faced with had not received any hurricane relief supplies and did not know
the COVID-19 pandemic. As the existing when help would arrive.
disparities were exacerbated, it was imperative She was relieved to see our Community Outreach Team
to find innovative ways to reach some of the distribute cleaning and baby supplies, clothing, water, food and other
community’s most vulnerable individuals and families. essentials to her community, a hard-hit mobile home neighborhood.
Always believing Healthcare Network can make a difference She recounted how scary it was to witness the waters from a
beyond the walls of our health centers, we built upon tried-and- nearby canal overflow into her home, rising nearly 3 feet. She saw
true ideas and created a dedicated team of diverse and multilingual her belongings floating in the water and worried about the safety of
individuals to directly reach those most in need – bringing her three children.
healthcare to the community. As the surge water seeped into her home, the family tried to
The Healthcare Network Community Outreach Team grew evacuate only to discover their cars were too water damaged to start.
out of the understanding that our community needed immediate Most of her neighbors – about 45 people in all – also lost their cars,
help, and it quickly became reality. Two of the biggest barriers to furniture and other personal belongings.
healthcare are transportation and communication, so the team In the days and weeks ahead, Healthcare Network is committed
brought all the resources it could – including COVID-19 testing to being a part of the restoration process and continuing its mission
and vaccines – to the most underserved areas in our community, to provide quality healthcare to everyone in our community.
mobilizing a multilingual team with Spanish and Haitian-Creole With the community's support, our dedicated Community
translators available every step of the way. Outreach Team can continue providing essential resources to
Just as this team was gaining headway with its community community members in need like Margarita and her family.
response and preparing to celebrate Healthcare Network’s 45 years About the Author
of serving the people of Collier County, Southwest Florida found Jamie Ulmer is President and CEO of Healthcare Network.
itself in the eye of Hurricane Ian. With destructive winds, heavy In addition to his work at Healthcare Network, Jamie serves on the
rain, storm surge and flooding, this strong Category 4 hurricane executive and chair committees for the Florida Association of Community
devastated our region. Health Centers and is a member of multiple committees for the National
Immediately after the storm, Healthcare Network’s Community Association of Community Health Centers. For information, visit
Outreach Team shifted gears and went to work providing food, healthcareswfl.org.

239-658-3000 HealthcareSWFL.org For how to support, visit healthcareswfl.org/donate/

48 Life in Naples | January 2023