Health

The Challenge

• There are more than 61,000 uninsured residents in Forsyth County, including 18.3 percent of the adult population. This ranks Forsyth County fourth worst out of the five most populous counties. ¹
• Heart disease, cancer, and stroke are the three leading causes of death in Forsyth County.² 
• Without health insurance, many people suffering from chronic conditions cannot attain the prescription drugs they need to control or improve their condition.³

• One in four people in Forsyth County is obese while one in five across the nation is obese.⁴

¹ Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research   ² North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics ³ Forsyth County Community Health Assessment   ⁴ Forsyth County Department of Public Health

United Way's Goal

• We seek to improve health outcomes and ensure that our children avoid obesity-related health chronic health conditions by increasing access to affordable health care, ensuring that school aged-children attain or maintain a healthy body by weight by increasing physical activity and eating a healthy diet.

The Results

• Provided 21,048 patient visits to community members who do not have health insurance - an increase of 9 percent over 2007.
• Clients receiving health care at the free clinic indicated a 50 percent reduction in emergency room visits.
• Increased the number of participating youth who exercised regularly by 30.5 percent, increased number of students exercising 30 minutes or more, and decreased their time spent watching TV.
• Nine hundred seventy-one individuals and families received guidance and support from other cancer survivors that helped them feel less isolated and more equipped during and after their treatment for cancer.

United Way’s Partners

Cancer Services; Community Care Center; Hospice and Palliative CareCenter; Old Hickory Council, Boy Scouts of America, YMCA of Northwest North Carolina; YWCA of Greater WInston-Salem

Med-Aid is a United Way Breakthrough Initiative to increase access to critical medications.

United Way’s investment provides operating support for Med-Aid, a pharmacy assisting uninsured and underinsured patients with accessing free or low-cost prescriptions.  Med-Aid brochure

 The Results

• Medications valued at $16.69 provided for free by pharmaceutical companies.
• 36,398 prescription applications processed for 3,391patients.
• 1,052 medical providers are participating in the initiative and are sending underinsured patients to Med-Aid to apply for prescription assistance.
• 75 percent of the patients surveyed indicated they now take their medications as prescribed. 96 percent report feeling healthier now that they are getting their medications.

United Way’s Partners

Led by the Community Care Center in partnership with Cancer Services, Crisis Control Ministries, Downtown Health Plaza, Forsyth Medical Center, HealthCare Access, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center  and other free medical clinics.

 Updated 2/12/13