Saint Francis Hospital Receives $10,000 From Liberty Bank

Press release from Saint Francis Hospital:

Sept. 7, 2021

Saint Francis Hospital, a member of Trinity Health Of New England, has been awarded $10,000 from Liberty Bank to support the hospital’s Social Care Initiative, which focuses on health disparities.

“We are incredibly grateful to Liberty Bank for their support,” said Thomas Burke, BPharm, MBA, President of Saint Francis Hospital. “This contribution will continue to assist our efforts in working in collaboration with community-based organizations to take a holistic approach to patient care, supporting resiliency in the face of public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.”

It is estimated that socioeconomic factors and the physical environment account for up to 70 percent of a person’s health and well-being. Saint Francis, in conjunction with Safety Net Programs, the Greater Hartford Advocacy Center, the Joan C. Dauber Food Pantry, and other community outreach programs, is piloting a system to better identify and address the social factors that influence health. Patients who are identified as benefitting from extra support are referred to a community health worker and connected to local resources. This grant will help to provide patients with direct assistance to meet their most immediate and pressing needs.

“We have identified several social factors that lead to health disparities, such as access to healthy food, stable housing, and transportation,” said Carlos Brown, Regional Vice President, Integrity & Compliance, Chief Compliance Officer, Community Health and Well Being, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. “This financial support will aid us in addressing the root causes of health disparities in our community and help patients navigate and access the best supports.”

“As a community bank, our responsibilities extend far beyond providing exceptional banking experiences. It also means being a bank that leads with kindness and partners with organizations focused on helping individuals and families in our communities thrive,” said David W. Glidden, President and CEO of Liberty Bank. “That’s exactly what Saint Francis Hospital is doing through their Social Care Initiative – removing barriers to help everyone achieve their full health potential regardless of their social position or socially determined circumstance. And it comes at the right time.”

“We are grateful for this award from Liberty Bank, which will allow our teams to connect on social and community care,” said Timothy R. Stanton, Regional Vice President of Philanthropy and Chief Development Officer, Saint Francis Foundation. “This initiative is vital to closing gaps in health outcomes and advancing health equity.”

This press release was produced by Saint Francis Hospital. The views expressed here are the author's own.