How a focus on community health can cure patients without an appointment
Healthcare facilities play a crucial role within communities, serving as integral components rather than isolated entities. Positioned at the heart of towns, they contribute significantly to the local economy as major employers and business partners. These hospitals and health systems act as anchor institutions, with life often revolving around them. Recognizing the significance of factors beyond their walls, providers empower themselves through community health, acknowledging that many health outcomes are influenced by external determinants.
Hidden Health Factors
While genetics certainly play a significant role in health outcomes, economic status stands as a close contender. Access to regular check-ups, comprehensive insurance coverage, timely medical interventions, and overall healthcare affordability greatly influence longevity and well-being. Studies by the American Public Health Association reveal that individuals with access to affordable healthcare, mental health support, and nutritious diets can enjoy a lifespan 20-30 years longer than those without such privileges. It emphasizes the profound impact of socioeconomic factors on overall health.
Conversely, individuals residing in food deserts, heavily polluted areas, and communities with unhealthy lifestyles often experience a higher prevalence of untreated chronic diseases. Limited access to insurance or inadequate coverage often leads them to rely on emergency departments, escalating healthcare costs across the entire system. By embracing healthier lifestyles and prioritizing preventive care, these individuals could extend their lifespan and enjoy overall well-being during those additional years. This is where community health initiatives play a vital role.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes that working at the community level is essential in promoting healthy living, preventing chronic diseases, and providing the greatest health benefits to those in need. By addressing disparities arising from factors such as race, ethnicity, location, social status, and income, community health initiatives aim to bridge health gaps and improve the well-being of a broader population.
Access to transportation for medical appointments, affordable housing ensuring a stable environment, and adequate ventilation in homes, schools, and workplaces are additional social determinants of health. While community health programs may not be able to address all these challenges independently, they can collaborate with urban planners to enhance access to green spaces and address hidden health factors. By addressing these inequities, the positive impact on community well-being can be truly remarkable.
“Community health has far-reaching effects, influencing educational achievements, safety, crime rates, employment opportunities, life expectancy, happiness, and more,” explained Thomas G. Bognanno, President and CEO of Community Health Charities. “Health permeates every aspect of life, from a child’s ability to learn to an adult’s capacity to work, making it a critical factor for education and financial well-being.”
All-Around Care
For community health initiatives to make a meaningful impact, it is essential to acknowledge the distinct characteristics of the communities they serve. Every community is unique, with specific health challenges and demographics. Certain populations may be more susceptible to particular diseases, or there may be higher proportions of non-native English speakers who would benefit from healthcare professionals fluent in their first language and understanding of their culture.
Dr. Anjali Teneja, executive director of Casa de Salud in Albuquerque, highlights the importance of healthcare being deeply empathetic and attuned to the surrounding context. This includes recognizing the impact of pandemics on patients and fostering psychological safety within healthcare teams and the communities they serve. As discussed in a Patient Experience Digital Series talk, community health initiatives should strive to provide comprehensive care that meets the specific needs and cultural nuances of the population they serve.
As rural hospitals continue to close at an alarming rate, communities are left vulnerable without nearby access to major healthcare facilities. In response, community health programs have emerged to bridge this gap, requiring flexibility and adaptability to cater to the specific needs of the communities they serve. Some programs, like Casa de Salud, even engage in training local students in essential healthcare skills such as vital sign reading, blood drawing, and patient charting. In fact, Casa de Salud has played a pivotal role in launching the careers of around 10% of incoming students at the University of New Mexico’s medical school.
These programs represent a reimagining of healthcare facilities’ relationships with the communities they serve, fostering a sense of collective responsibility and well-being. Bognanno, emphasizing the importance of community health, states, “Good community health equates to healthy people, as a community is the ecosystem or environment in which people live. It’s difficult to be personally healthy if your community is unhealthy.” By addressing the healthcare needs of the community as a whole, these programs promote not only individual well-being but also the overall health of the community ecosystem.
For community health initiatives to thrive, health systems must establish partnerships and invest in the neighborhoods surrounding them, aligning with their community health needs assessment plans. A remarkable example of this approach is Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. In response to the Great Financial Crisis, their Healthy Neighborhoods, Healthy Families program has made a direct, positive impact on tens of thousands of residents while forging numerous partnerships in the Columbus area.
An exemplary initiative within this program is the Healthy Homes project, which involves renovating deteriorated homes and constructing new ones on vacant lots. By creating safe and nurturing environments for families to thrive, this effort significantly contributes to improved health outcomes.
Recognizing that health systems and communities are interconnected, such initiatives transcend the initial reasons for a patient’s hospital visit, resulting in an overall better quality of life for everyone involved.
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