Who We Are

History

Coastal Connections, formerly known as HealthLinks, is a resource linking services offered to MUSC Health patients. The program was created in response to the many Lowcountry residents who frequently utilized the MUSC Health Emergency Department for primary care needs due to lack of insurance coverage or financial stability. Since then, Coastal Connections has expanded throughout the MUSC Health network and frequents many community events to educate and link Lowcountry residents with resources that match and can meet their needs.

Approach

The Community Navigation Social Worker will consult with patients to collect information and identify needs the patient has that are impacting their well-being. Our Community Navigator will then match the patient with community resources that are in close proximity to the patient’s residence that can address the identified needs. The Community Navigator follows up with the patient one week later, ensuring he/she was able to make contact with the services and was able to receive assistance.

Mission, Vision, Values

Mission

Coastal Connections remedies social and economic problems caused by a lack of knowledge and access to adequate resources by navigating patients to community partners for assistance. Doing so directly assists in improving clients’ health and quality of life.

Vision

Coastal Connections will be a community care model for nonprofit organizations in the tri-county area (Berkley, Dorchester, and Charleston counties) that assist the underserved with their socioeconomic needs.

Values

• Stewardship
• Empowerment
• Compassion
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Commitment
• Efficiency
• Collaboration
• Advocacy
• Teamwork
• Engagement
• Accessibility
• Dynamism
• Ingenuity
• Creativity

Team

Program Leadership

Rita Aidoo, Community Navigation Social Worker
aidoo@musc.edu