Evaluation of the MetroWest Care Connection

Client: MetroWest Health Foundation
Topic Areas: Healthcare delivery systems; Social determinants of health

The MetroWest Health Foundation engaged ICH to conduct a process and early outcomes evaluation of the MetroWest Care Connection—a health and human services hub model coordinating care and eliminating barriers to the social determinants of health for people with complex care needs in Framingham, Natick, and Ashland. ICH triangulated findings from an analysis of Care Connection program data with insights from focus groups and interviews with key interest holders in order to assess challenges and build on the successes of the three distinct but overlapping activities of the Care Connection Initiative: service navigation, referral management, and complex care coordination. Evaluation results supported the foundation in making data-informed decisions about how to maximize the program’s impact and expand its reach in the future.