Wishard Medical-Legal Partnership Receives Public Health Award
Contact: Todd Harper
Phone: 317-630-7808
Pager: 317-310-5972
The Wishard Medical-Legal Partnership for Patient Health received a Preventive Medicine and Public Health Award from the Indiana Public Health Foundation at its 24th annual Indiana Premier Health Achievement Awards celebration on October 2.
The partnership was recognized for launching an initiative aimed at improving healthcare for children through an interdisciplinary approach utilizing the skills of doctors, lawyers, social workers and academics to improve the patient’s health outcome. The process integrates resources for service to patients with healthcare needs requiring social solutions, understanding the patient's illness is sometimes complicated by problems that require more than what the typical healthcare provider independently can resolve.
The award was given for implementing a comprehensive approach to practicing healthcare and providing Indianapolis citizens access to greater assistance with health problems that have social or economic roots. The partnership puts into place a system of specialists, including pro bono lawyers, to advocate on behalf of the patient and intervene in circumstances that result in better long-term health for the patient.
Accepting the award were Dr. Lisa Harris, CEO and medical director of Wishard Health Services; Tom Froehle, chair and chief executive partner at Baker & Daniels; and Dr. Enid Zwirn of the Indiana Health Advocacy Coalition. Other participants in the partnership are the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic and Indianapolis Legal Aid Society.
"As physicians, we recognize the major role that social and environmental factors play in contributing to chronic illness, often impairing our ability to achieve optimal outcomes for our patients," said Dr. Harris. "Through this partnership with lawyers who can also serve as powerful patient advocates, we can assist patients in making positive changes that will frequently result in an improvement not only in their health but in their overall quality of life."
Launched in January, the program is currently open for Wishard pediatric patients.
"We are very proud to play a role in creating Indiana's first medical-legal partnership," Froehle said. "As a law firm, we are committed to make a difference in our community, including through our various pro bono programs. The medical-legal partnership offers a unique opportunity for our lawyers to work with our clients and other professionals in the medical and public health fields to positively affect the lives of Hoosiers."
For nearly 150 years, Wishard Health Services has provided high quality, cost-effective healthcare to the citizens of Marion County. Wishard is accredited by the Joint Commission. Nationally recognized programs include a level I trauma center, regional burn center, comprehensive senior care program, women’s and children’s services, Midtown Community Mental Health Center, and a network of primary care sites located throughout the neighborhoods of Indianapolis. Wishard Health Services is the public hospital division of the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County and is managed by the Indiana University School of Medicine whose physicians provide a comprehensive range of primary and specialty care services.
Founded in 1863, Baker & Daniels LLP is one of Indiana’s largest law firms. With more than 370 lawyers and legal professionals, Baker & Daniels serves clients in regional, national and international transaction, regulatory and litigation matters from offices in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Beijing. For more information about Baker & Daniels, visit www.bakerdaniels.com.