CountyCare Member Story

62-Year-Old CountyCare Member Regains Mobility And His Life Thanks To Care Coordination Program

Sixty-two-year-old CountyCare member Stevenson Williams joined the health plan in July of 2014 due to his affiliation with Cook County Health. A resident of Harvey, Ill., and school bus driver for about 12 years, Williams led an active life, went on walks for about three miles during work breaks and was a regular at the gym.

One day, he woke up and simply could not walk. “I tried to walk, but it didn’t happen,” he recalled. He went to the doctor, where he has diagnosed with a spinal condition that causes back pain. He also had a degenerative disc, causing him extraordinary pain. His doctor referred him to CountyCare. “My back pain significantly altered my life,” Williams

said. “I was confined to the house. My life changed so much. I couldn’t do the things that most people do.”

That’s when Care Coordinator Jackie Webb stepped in. Jackie and the team arranged all of his durable medical equipment (DME) needs (cane, walkers, mobile wheelchair) to regain his mobility and independence.  They also managed his medication refills and coordinated his personal assistance through a homemaker who prepared his meals, cleaned his house and helped him move around the house. Homemakers assist Williams for 4-6 hours, 5 days a week, and accompany him to medical appointments if needed.

“Care Coordination was instrumental in securing my equipment, seeing the right doctors and providing the right direction in my care. My Care Coordinator even went out of her way to tell me about services for people with low income that I didn’t know existed.”

In fact, the CountyCare Care Coordinator team secured a ComEd grant that the utility company offers to families with CountyCare insurance.  The grant applies up to $500 per calendar year to the member’s ComEd utility bill. Thanks to the Care Coordination team, Williams has benefited from this grant for three years, a true lifesaver for those who are on a fixed income or have a disability.

Williams is currently receiving care under CountyCare’s Long-Term Services & Supports (LTSS) waiver team as part of his rehabilitation journey where an expert team ensures he receives the services needed to be reintegrated into the community.

Now retired, Williams can perform his daily activities, attend his medical appointments, go grocery shopping and live a more independent life. This is in great part thanks to his homemaker assistance—and all because of the Care Coordination Program at CountyCare.

“CountyCare supported all my needs,” Williams said. “I appreciate all CountyCare has done for me. If there is one thing I can add, as much as I like my waiver team, I want my Care Coordinator Jackie back. I miss her.”

* Names and identifying details have been changed to protect anonymity