Care coordination training grant awarded to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has been awarded a $40,157 care coordination training grant from the New York State Department of Health.

The grant will support the first project of its kind in Niagara County. Care coordination training will be conducted in partnership with Niagara County Community College and provided to employees of Niagara Falls Memorial and 17 community-based organizations.

The curriculum will focus on a variety of topics that will improve care coordination performance including effectively navigating patients through the complex health care system, use of patient referral and service linkage techniques, and coordination of care among multiple health care providers.

"Care coordination is integral to achieving health care reforms," Memorial Chief Operating Officer Sheila K. Kee said. "Connecting patients to primary care, other outpatient services and community-based organizations for social services such as housing, food, utility assistance and a range of other basic services is a proven strategy for avoiding unnecessary emergency department visits and hospitalizations."

Care coordination classroom training will be housed in the Learning Hub of the new Golisano Center for Community Health on the medical center's downtown Niagara Falls campus. The 10-week course will train approximately 260 people. Graduates will be issued a certificate in care coordination.

Persons interested in the care coordination training project should email [email protected].