Community Care

When the residents of Fremont, Newark, Union City, south Hayward, and unincorporated Sunol voted to create Washington Township Health Care District in 1948, they had a vision that excellent health care would be available locally, close to home. Ten years later, when Washington Hospital opened in 1958, that vision was fulfilled. In the nearly 70 years since, Tri-City residents have come to rely on Washington Health (WH) to provide cutting-edge medical technology, treatment, and health care services. But these are not the only ways WH supports the health of community residents.

Washington Health Chief of Community Support Services, Angus Cochran, noted district residents know the health system offers health-focused educational seminars, free health screenings, and health fairs. They may not realize, however, the concerts they attended in Fremont or Newark or the assistance they may have received from the East Bay Agency for Children (EBAC) are also supported by the Fremont-based health care provider.

“Washington Health provides for the health of the whole community in a holistic manner,” Cochran said. “In addition to health care offerings such as diabetes screenings or blood pressure checks, we support a wide variety of community organizations that impact the physical and mental health of the Tri-City Area and beyond. We do this by providing sponsorships, having our executives and other staff volunteer with community nonprofits, and offering in-kind contributions to other organizations. It is both our responsibility and privilege to care for our community in ways that have the greatest potential to impact residents’ well-being.”

In California, nonprofit hospitals are required to provide community benefits such as free care for indigent and low-income patients and investments in community health. To that end, Washington Health conducts a comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment every three years.

“The purpose of the assessment is to identify crucial health issues affecting residents in our health care district,” Cochran explained. “These needs are identified through a combination of community input, statistical data, and expert analysis. We look at indicators about the physical health of the area’s residents, as well as broader social and environmental determinants of health. This more inclusive definition reflects Washington Health’s view that many factors affect community health and it is essential to consider these factors to adequately understand and address community health needs.

“Guided by the data, Washington Health can target services and educational programs to improve the health and well-being of our community and provide focused community outreach programs that offer preventive care measures and health education,” Cochran continued. “The assessment findings are also used as a guideline for funding, policy, and advocacy efforts.”

Noting WH supports some 45 nonprofit and advocacy groups in the Tri-City Area, Cochran shared several examples.

“Every year, WH Community Support Services works with EBAC (the group that runs the Healthy Start program for Fremont Unified School District) to help make the holidays brighter for underserved kids,” he shared. “We partner with the cities in the health care district through their Community Services Departments, the Fremont Community Advisory and Engagement Board, the Family Resource Center, and the Union City Family Center. We also provide office space on the Washington Health campus for other nonprofits that promote public health and safety, including One Child; BRAVE Bay Area (formerly BAWAR); ReCARES; and Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments (SAVE).”

OneChild provides underserved children with new clothing and school supplies. BRAVE Bay Area supports survivors of all forms of gender-based violence. ReCARES collects, redistributes, and encourages reuse of durable medical equipment and supplies throughout the Bay Area. SAVE provides safety, support, and resources for people to live free from intimate partner violence and engages communities to end violence.

The health system also champions community events, activities, and organizations that contribute to mental health and well-being. In 2024, that included concerts, movies, local celebrations, and collaborations with service organizations and local chambers of commerce.

“We have participated in the summer concert series in Fremont, mariachi festival in Newark, movie nights in Fremont, and the Newark Days parade and festival,” Cochran said. “Chief Compliance Officer Kristin Ferguson, MSN, MHA, RN, organizes and leads a BSA (formerly Boy Scouts of America) Medical Explorer Post on campus that meets once a month during the school year. We provide tours to school kids and host students from Mission Valley ROP to shadow staff in different areas, from nursing to biomedical engineering, to pharmacy and sterile processing. We connect health care leaders—physicians and other clinicians—with civic organizations and service clubs to share current, innovative medical practices.

“The bottom line is, Washington Health truly cares what’s going on in our community and the people who live here,” he emphasized. “We take care of our neighbors from every aspect of their health—physical, mental, environmental, and societal. All of this is part of our mission to serve the district’s total health needs.”

To view the hospital’s Community Health Needs Assessment report, visit whhs.com/CHNA.