December 2020 Common Ground Newsletter

December 2020

Wade Norwood tapped for COVID-19 vaccine roll out

Calling COVID-19 vaccine distribution a massive undertaking, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello appointed Dr. Nancy “Nana” Bennett, founder and director of the Center for Community Health & Prevention, to spearhead local vaccination planning and coordination efforts. He also appointed Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground Health, to lead community engagement and education efforts for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

“Achieving the level of vaccination necessary in order to move this community beyond the pandemic is going to require an unprecedented level of coordination, education, and communication, and we must get this right,” Bello said.

Read more.

Phyllis Jackson named to state's vaccine equity task force

Photo: Heather Hazzan/SELF Magazine. Used with permission

Officials call for all to get flu immunizations

Due to local spikes in COVID-19, every hospital bed is needed now. Which is why health officials are underscoring the importance of getting a flu shot to decrease the strain flu places on hospitals. Find the nearest place to get a flu shot here.

“Flu shots are particularly important for Black and Latinos, who are more likely to be hospitalized with influenza,” said Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground. “In the midst of this terrible pandemic, flu shots are one thing we should be doing and are proven to prevent 82% of hospitalizations from influenza.”

Read more.

Region pioneers use of electronic medical records for community wellness, health equity

A collaborative effort with the Rochester RHIO, the region's health information exchange, has navigated the barriers that have kept digital medical records from becoming widely used for population health reporting. The result is the Community Health Indicators report, which provides a snapshot of county and regional rates for four key health measures: smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and adult obesity. Measures are pulled from more than a million patient observations securely stored by the Rochester RHIO.

“The Community Health Indicators are like a patient portal for our region,” said Wade Norwood, Common Ground Health’s CEO.

Read more.

What we're reading

Wade Norwood was recognized in the RBJ’s inaugural “Power List” of Rochester leaders. He is one of the 11 leaders in health care who, during the pandemic, have had “the unenviable task of protecting their employees; tending to the health needs of patients; dealing with shortages of necessary equipment; managing changing regulations; and more,” the RBJ wrote. Common Ground board members Dr. Michael Mendoza, Kathleen Parrinello and Dr. Bridgette Wiefling also made the list. See the health care leaders featured on the list here.

In the headlines

Reconnect Rochester Think Transit First film screening and panel discussion

13 WHAM Breaking barriers in prenatal oral health, diversifying health workforce

WXXI News WXXI Live forum: COVID vaccines on the horizon Related: Democrat and Chronicle WXXI News 13 WHAM

WXXI News Salon, barbershop owners step in to help people in need of housing assistance

Spectrum News City of Rochester to Perform On-Site COVID-19 Testing at Charlotte Harbortown Homes Related: Spectrum News WROC TV WHEC TV