Memorial Hermann Health System is pleased to announce the opening of the Greater Heights Community Resource Center, an innovative concept aimed at assisting both patients and the community with accessing community resources and completing eligibility applications, while also serving as a link to primary care providers and social service organizations.
“We are excited to open the Greater Heights Community Resource Center and bring these integrated services to this community. Our goal is to help people develop their road map and provide the guidance, support and connections needed to improve their health,” said Carol Paret, Senior Vice President and Chief Community Health Officer at Memorial Hermann.
The Community Resource Center is located near the campus of Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital at 1740 West 27th Street in Houston. It is staffed by Memorial Hermann community health workers who are equipped to help individuals in need navigate concerns impacting their health status, including care access, food insecurity, safe housing and transportation.
The Center helps connect uninsured and underinsured individuals with vitally important access to primary and preventive care by working closely with federally qualified health centers, private not-for-profit clinics and Harris Health System. Each patient completes an assessment to determine needs beyond health care.
“Our vision is to create healthier communities, now and for generations to come. Health care is only one of the elements needed to achieve this and the services provided by the Greater Heights Community Resource Center will provide our community with valuable resources to improve health. We are grateful to our community partners who are collaborating in this important initiative to provide the resources that our community needs,” said Paul O’Sullivan, Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital.
The Houston Food Bank will be on-site to help those who need access to fresh, healthy food. SNAP application assistance is also available.
The Center also maintains a relationship with Houston Volunteer Lawyers to support clients free of charge who need help navigating legal issues, including housing concerns.
“No referrals are needed to access the Center. Many clients learn about the resource from Memorial Hermann clinicians who have identified that their patients are struggling at home and need a little extra assistance to get better,” Paret said.
The Community Resource Center illustrates how Memorial Hermann has been working to improve population health through a variety of initiatives, including:
“Our goal is all part of a larger plan to advance health and wellness across Greater Houston by focusing on the needs of the specific areas and regions that Memorial Hermann serves,” Paret said.
This is the health system’s second such Community Resource Center in the Greater Houston area. It opened its first Community Resource Center in October 2019. That Center is located on the campus of Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital in the heart of a region of Greater Houston identified as having some of the most pervasive health challenges.