Lawrence, Massachusetts, Keeps the Community at the Center of Hospital Community Benefits
Lawrence, Massachusetts, a city that has struggled with poverty and poor health, is now a Culture of Health Prize winner due in part to state policies that bolster the city’s efforts to advance health equity and address social needs. These supportive state policies include guidelines governing the local hospital’s community health needs assessments, its community benefits investments, and its determination of need spending. The Mayor’s Health Task Force works closely with community partners and braids funding from a variety of sources to improve the social and economic factors that affect health. The city’s innovative work and longstanding partnerships offer a blueprint for cities and states interested in unlocking the potential of community-centered, multi-sector partnerships.
Download: Keeping the Community at the Center of Community Benefits Programs: Lessons from Lawrence, Massachusetts
Support for this work was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the foundation.
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
