Linking Community-Based Organizations with Each Other, and with Hospitals and Health Clinics, to Help Connect Patients with the Services They Need

Abstract

What was the research about? Community-based organizations (CBOs) are nonprofit groups that work at the local level to improve life for people in need. CBOs can help people pay bills or find food, jobs, or places to live. CBOs can also help people with basic healthcare needs. Some doctors, hospital staff, or other healthcare professionals may not know about the services that CBOs offer to patients. The research team wanted to learn if a program to link hospitals and clinics to CBOs could help keep patients in East and Southeast Baltimore, Maryland, from needing to go to the hospital or emergency room as often. The team compared patients who live near CBOs that were in this program with patients who live near CBOs that weren't in this program.