Milwaukee Health Department collaborates with Common Ground amid ongoing coronavirus pandemic

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The city of Milwaukee Health Department is collaborating with Common Ground, a community organization of 38 member institutions in and around Milwaukee. 

Common Ground created a program with the Milwaukee Public Health Department to follow up with patients who test positive for COVID-19 and are sent home to heal, according to a news release.

Officials say there have been over 13,000 positive COVID-19 cases to date across the city of Milwaukee with a disproportionate impact on people of color with Latinx and Black populations making up over 60 % of positive cases and 70% of deaths.

According to a news release, a drastic need in the community and equity of healthcare and access to recourse for COVID-19 was established. Common Ground's goal is to meet a part of that need by providing follow-up care for those who have tested positive and do not require hospitalization.

“This program provides crucial support to those who have COVID-19 but don’t have a medical home. They get medical advice and daily reassurance that someone has their back throughout the course of their illness," said Mariana Rincon, Physician from Sixteenth Street Community Health Clinic and volunteer with the Common Ground Community Health Volunteer Program.

Over 20 Common Ground volunteers from healthcare professions run the program. Over 18 clinicians have also volunteered their time to staff a hotline for patient support.