Catholic Charities of Tennessee, Inc. - Our Services

Contact Information

Bridges to Care
Holly Johnson, Department Director
10 South 6th Street
Nashville, TN 37206
Phone: 615.259.3567
Fax: 615.259.2851
hjohnson@cctenn.org

Bridges to Care | Campaign to Reduce Poverty

Bridges to Care (BTC): Bridges to Care is designed to assist uninsured Davidson County residents in receiving medical care, including mental, dental, and substance abuse services. It is designed to provide the uninsured with information and care coordination by linking them to an on-going source of primary health care, a "medical home". The medical home will charge for services based upon the patient's ability to pay. Participation in the program requires participants to use hospital emergency departments only when their condition is an emergency, but not for routine primary health care. The program has been enrolling people since February 2002.

Bridges to Care will pay for transportation to medical services for participants who have no viable means of transportation. Bridges to Care also has a pharmacy at Metro General Hospital Nashville that provides pharmacy services to our participants. Bridges to Care is working to ensure that everyone in Davidson County has access to health care.

Here is what our participants have to say about the BTC program:

Continue to help people like me. Because I was really down and out at the time. I had been off work for a year. And it's the first time I've been off work without a job since I don't know when. And when you get down and, you know, I couldn't tell my kids. I wouldn't tell my kids I was sick. And so this just really helped me a whole lot. And, you know, so I hope they continue to help other people the way I've been helped. Because without 'em I don't know what I would of done. I really don't. Cause I had been turned down by TennCare. -Female Patient, Bridges to Care

Nancy Anness, Clinical Director at St. Thomas Clinic on Charlotte Avenue, said a Latino patient referred to the clinic was examined for chest pains, given a stress test, and was found to have arterial blockage; he was given a coronary bypass. "Now he's feeling great, and the outcome was, he called us back and said, 'You saved my life'".

I like the way that they treat you like you're the only one that ever survived on the planet earth. And make you feel like you're "somebody" at your lowest point. -Female Patient, Bridges to Care

For more information on Bridges to Care, please call 615.760.2799 or visit our website at http://www.bridgestocare.org/.

Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America

Resource Available--Catholic Charities USA new website feature:
40 Days 40 Ways

Poverty in America is a moral and social crisis. It threatens the health and economic well-being of our families and our nation as a whole. In response to this crisis, Catholic Charities USA has launched the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America to create the political will to reduce poverty in half to make our nation whole.

The GOALS of Catholic Charities USA’s Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America:

To reduce poverty in the United States by 50 percent by the year 2020.
To call upon the government to do more to serve those who are poor, and to improve public policies that strengthen and support families.
To educate policymakers and the public about the struggles of those living in poverty and the good work of those who serve them in local communities.
To engage those who are most impacted by government policies to be active participants in developing solutions to reducing poverty.
To work with individuals and organizations across the country to address poverty in our country.

The Four Focus Areas of the Campaign:

HUNGER

– All persons should have adequate food and water to nourish their bodies.

HEALTH CARE

– Every person should have access to equitable and affordable health care.

HOUSING

– Every person should have a safe, decent, affordable place to live.

FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY

– All persons should have the opportunity to adequately provide for themselves and their families.


	CLICK HERE to see POVERTY IN THE NEWS

For more information contact: Randi Armour, Assistant Administrator, Catholic Charities of TN, 615-352-3087 x 229, rarmour@cctenn.org or visit www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/poverty.