Since the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine began, independent living communities for older adults have had to become resourceful in responding to the needs of residents. Traveling to a clinic to receive the vaccine can be challenging for many people in independent living homes. With access to vaccines still limited, Lutheran Services in America member The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society and Sanford Health got creative in bringing the vaccine to those who need it most.
Sanford Health, which merged with the Good Samaritan Society in 2019, sent a mobile clinic to two Good Samaritan Society residential communities in South Dakota. The on-site vaccination service gave a literal shot in the arm to 108 residents!
The mobile clinic is just one example of Sanford’s and the Good Samaritan Society’s commitment to offering residents a full assortment of health services that cover the whole lifespan of an individual, from maternity care to hospice.
Bringing their services under a common roof enables Sanford to focus on providing even more wellness programs for residents while the Good Samaritan Society can expand its acute care services, such as those offered under its Medicare Advantage institutional special needs plan (I-SNP). Beneficiaries of its I-SNP, for instance, experience a rehospitalization rate that is 30 percent lower than the rate of unmanaged populations—a testament to the organization’s focus on preventing hospitalizations and improving care management.
The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society is a member of Lutheran Services in America, a network of more than 300 health and human service organizations located in more than 1,400 communities across the United States. Together, the network makes a difference in the lives of one in 50 Americans every year.
Learn more about the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society.
By Christopher Findlay, Senior Marketing Manager