Broadlawns’ First Book Program to Expand with $10,000 Gift from Iowa Total Care

April 5, 2021

Des Moines, Iowa (April 2, 2021) – Iowa Total Care has gifted $10,000 to the Broadlawns Medical Center Foundation to support the Broadlawns First Book Program, which ensures every child cared for at Broadlawns receives a brand new, age appropriate book.

Iowa Total Care’s gift will provide 6,000 new books to the program. The gift also covers an expansion of the program to ensure books are purchased which demonstrate inclusivity, empower women, and feature characters that positively reflect Broadlawns’ diverse patient base.

“We are so grateful for the generosity and partnership of Iowa Total Care,” said Katie Wengert, Broadlawns Medical Center’s Chief Marketing and External Relations Officer and Foundation Executive Director. “Iowa Total Care identified a need for our pediatric patients that aligns with their corporate giving platform.  Their support of the Broadlawns First Book Program addresses a social determinant of health by encouraging our young patients to read and learn.”

The Broadlawns First Book Program was designed in 2013 by Broadlawns physicians to address a gap they were seeing in their pediatric patients’ access to educational and literacy tools, a key social determinant of health. Studies show that individuals with higher levels of education are healthier and live longer. With that in mind, Broadlawns providers began issuing “prescriptions to read” and began providing a free book at each pediatric appointment. In eight years, over 19,651 new books have been distributed through the First Book Program.

“Iowa Total Care is honored to support Broadlawns Medical Center which is a critical resource to children and families in our community,” said Mitch Wasden, Iowa Total Care’s Plan President & CEO.

For additional information on the Broadlawns Medical Center Foundation, or to make a donation, please visit www.broadlawns.org/foundation.

About Broadlawns Medical Center

Broadlawns Medical Center is a nonprofit healthcare organization that ensures our community is provided quality healthcare that is coordinated, compassionate and cost‐effective. The Broadlawns campus includes an acute care hospital, primary and specialty care clinics, urgent care and emergency services, lab, radiology, dentistry, crisis services, inpatient, outpatient and community-based mental healthcare.  Broadlawns accepts all forms of insurance and its approach to health care and quality outcomes earned a Level 3 rating from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the highest achievable status for a medical delivery model. Broadlawns takes a leadership position in teaching the next generation of healthcare professionals through its residency and fellowship programs.

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