Delaying Care is Not an Option
Caroline had been struggling with her diabetes for many years. Because she was uninsured, it had been many years since she had seen her doctor.
Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to dangerous symptoms such as extreme fatigue, blurred vision and tingling in the limbs, among others. When Caroline began experiencing some of those symptoms, she realized she couldn’t delay seeking medical care any longer.
A provider evaluated Caroline at Aurora Medical Center - Manitowoc County. The provider determined that Caroline needed to be admitted for an inpatient stay until her symptoms and blood sugars were under control.
Aware that Caroline was uninsured, with Caroline’s permission, the physician asked the hospital’s financial advocate to meet with her. During their meeting, the advocate completed a financial assessment and was able to help Caroline gain approval for a 100% discount through the Aurora Health Care Patient Financial Assistance Program.
When learning of her approval, Caroline hugged the Advocate and thanked her over and over. Caroline was finally able to relax, worry less about the hospital bill and focus more on getting her diabetes under control.
Food Insecurity and the Farmers Market
Being food secure means having consistent access to enough food to sustain a healthy life. Food security is also linked to a reduced risk for multiple chronic health conditions such as obesity, heart disease and others. According to Aurora Medical Center – Manitowoc County’s most recent Community Health Needs Assessment completed in 2020, 13.3 percent of Manitowoc County residents experienced food insecurity, an increase from 8.4 percent in 2018.
The City of Manitowoc Downtown Farmers Market provides access locally grown or sourced produce and products. The Aurora Medical Center – Manitowoc County provided funding that made it possible for market guests to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables utilizing EBT services. This increased access to fresh foods for the those in our community who are food insecure and have FoodShare benefits. 324 EBT transactions took place at the Farmers Market during the 2022 season.
Additional ways the hospital expands access to healthy food within the community include:
- Educating families about the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The program provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk.
- Donating food to local food pantries. The food pantries then distribute the food directly to families in need. The hospital donated over $33k in food throughout 2022.
