By Jamie Cetrone | Categories: | Comments Off on Social Needs Screening and Interventions
The Promotora and African American Health Conductor programs were initially birthed at our Bay Point Family Health Center in 2002 and 2005. The initial goal of these programs was to create more effective cultural bridges between Contra Costa Health Services, a county-run health system, and the Latino and African American communities through the utilization of indigenous community representatives in order to assist the populations in better utilizing and navigating the Contra Costa Health Services system of care. The core functions of these two programs included: assisting patients with health navigation, community health education, assisting with group medical visits and conducting community outreach. In July 2016 through a collaboration with Health Leads (a nationally recognized resource linkage organization) some of these staff were trained on the Health Leads REACH tool – a very sophisticated resource linkage software tool which allowed these staff to screen patients for social needs, input patient demographic data, link patients to appropriate resources and agencies, track actions and follow up on each patient assisted, and measure impact.
Contra Costa Health Services partners with a community non -profit, the Center for Human Development to employ and oversee these staff. However, the staff receive direct supervision from two Health Services staff. The contract with the non-profit is primarily funded through the Health Services budget with supplementation from Medicaid revenue generated by the staff, as well as occasional grants. The two programs are housed in five of the 11 Contra Costa Health Services health centers. They work closely with health center administrative leadership, with medical providers, with our Health Leads advocate partners and with many community based organizations.
From July 11, 2016 – April 14, 2017, The West County Health Center Health Leads pilot program has served over 750 patients with a 86-91% linkage connection success rate – according to Health leads one of the highest in the country. The Promotoras and Health Conductors have assisted over 2,000 households with health navigation, and conducted over 7,791 community outreach encounters.
By Jamie Cetrone | Categories: | Comments Off on Screening, Mobile Markets, Nutrition Education
Cook County Health and Hospitals System (CCHHS) includes the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Provident Hospital of Cook County, Oak Forest Health Center, and 16 ambulatory and community health care clinics in the greater Chicago area and suburban Cook County. CCHHS launched a pilot program in 2015 that connected food-insecure patients to fresh produce resources through the Greater Chicago Food Depository. CCHHS uses a two-question food insecurity screening tool during patient intake, and patients who screen positive are given vouchers for fresh produce at mobile produce markets called “FRESH Trucks.” CCHHS also connects food-insecure patients in need of permanent assistance to local Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) resources. CCHHS has also piloted culinary and nutrition education programs to teach patients about healthy eating.
By Jamie Cetrone | Categories: | Comments Off on Healthy Youth Transitions
Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood Florida started the Healthy Youth Transitions (HYT) Program 7 years ago as a result of an investigation of the child welfare system which identified gaps in services when youth unsuccessfully transitioned to adulthood with little support, skills or preparation. HYT helps youth and young adults age 15 to 22 who are aging out of foster care make the transition to independent living.
The program structure is provided by Memorial Life Coaches, who develop rapport and engage youth in an open, honest professional relationship in order to assist them with successful transition to an acceptable, responsible, productive adulthood. Typically, the youth distrust the very systems they have relied on as they have been disappointed frequently by foster care agency staff turnover, lack of services, frequent group home relocations (several youth served have been in over 20 homes in the 10-12 years they have been in foster care) and being separated with the siblings. By building a safe and nurturing relationship, HYT youth being to realize that the Memorial staff are here to help them grow, mature and develop into the adults they desire to become but did not have the role models or consistent caring adults in their lives. The Life Coach aims to help each participant gain skills and self-sufficiency to navigate the logistics of daily living, health management, social relationships, education, employment and money management, and other aspects of young adulthood.
All of Memorial Healthcare System’s Community programs and initiatives are rooted in collaborative partnerships that work to strengthen families and communities. HYT involves internal collaboration, with partnership from the primary care, specialty services, and behavioral health departments. External community partners include local universities, food banks, legal service providers, and the sheriff’s office.
Current outcome measures of the program found that 96% of the females have had no new pregnancies, 98% of all youth have had no new law violations, 98% demonstrated proficiency in employability and/or job retention skills, 86% made progress in school, were promoted, graduated, or obtained a GED, and 89% have obtained stable housing.
By Jamie Cetrone | Categories: | Comments Off on Road to Better Health
The Road to Better Health Coalition (RTBH) was formed in 2008 following a community health assessment that identified serious needs in the areas of teen pregnancy, access to care, obesity and other health-related issues. It also confirmed that the community faced significant health disparities related to race, income and education. Leaders took action and formed RTBH, a coalition of over 70 partners and stakeholders, to identify health priorities for Spartanburg County and improve health outcomes through data-driven decision-making. The current priority areas are access to care, adult oral health, behavioral health, birth outcomes, health equity, obesity prevention and tobacco cessation.
The RTBH Coalition is guided by an Advisory Board that includes key leaders from 18 organizations. The Advisory Board provides leadership and strategic input on the operations and activities of RTBH and serves as the collective decision-making body. RTBH taskforces have been formed to establish goals and monitor progress across each of the priority areas. The hospital and participating organizations leverage partnerships and resources and equally share the expenses of the coalition. Although the RTBH focuses on all residents of Spartanburg County, particular emphasis is placed on disparate populations.
The RTBH Coalition strives to connect and mobilize partners who are working to improve local health outcomes. The hospital along with representatives from academia, non-profits, government, philanthropy, and the business community offer their skills, expertise, and resources to the coalition and are committed to bringing about positive change as engaged members of RTBH taskforces and initiatives.
RTBH stakeholders come together every three years to review and prioritize the critical health issues identified in the Spartanburg Community Indicators Public Health Report. They also convene annually to assess progress toward collective goals. The following initiatives serve as select examples of successful efforts to address community health concerns and reduce healthcare costs.
AccessHealth Spartanburg (AHS) connects uninsured residents to a network of donated care, a medical home, and other services including behavioral health care. The success of AHS has contributed to the decrease in charity costs at Spartanburg Medical Center from $116 million (2008) to $64 million (2016). For every $1.00 invested in AHS, there is $12.62 returned in benefits.
Collaborative efforts among local institutions and multiple community partners have led to a remarkable reduction in teen birth rates. The overall teen birth rate for 15-19 year olds in Spartanburg County decreased by 50% from 2010 – 2016. The most substantial decline occurred among African American females; decreasing by 68% from 2010 to 2016.
Spartanburg County’s County Health Ranking improved from 21st in 2010, to 18th in 2014, to 14th in 2017.
By Jamie Cetrone | Categories: | Comments Off on Preventive Food Pantry
Boston Medical Center (BMC) created its Preventive Food Pantry in October 2001 to address hunger-related illnesses and malnutrition among its low-income patient population. Shortly before the Pantry’s opening, a survey found that 1 in every 10 families served at BMC did not know where their next meal was coming from. The Pantry first served Pediatrics and the Women’s Center, as children and pregnant moms were the target population. The other clinical areas were gradually added over a five-year period. It now serves patients from all departments at BMC who have a physician’s referral, a prescription for supplemental food that best promote physical health, prevent future illness, and facilitate recovery.
Striving solely on philanthropy, the Food Pantry provides food to approximately 7,000 people per month. It is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and families can visit twice per month. They receive three to four days’ worth of food each visit, based on their household sizes and dietary restrictions. A key feature is the provision of perishable foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, milk, cheese and eggs – items that are costly and therefore often lacking in a low-income family’s diet.
The Pantry works closely with the Greater Boston Food Bank, receiving an average of 15,000 pounds of food each week. It also benefits from partnerships with companies, local schools, churches and temples that donate food.
Recipient of the 2012 James W. Varnum National Quality Health Care Award, BMC’s food pantry has helped change the lives of many patients and families in a personal and dignified manner. This is evident in the pantry receiving a satisfaction rate of over 90 percent by its clients over the course of its existence.
