Policy and Practice October 2011 : Page 28
health care By Claude Earl Fox and Debora Kerr F aced with the paradox of budget cuts and increased demand, local-level collaboration among public-and private-sector human service agencies has the potential to extend, and per-haps increase, resources while provid-ing families with a broader range of services. Requirements of the new fed-eral health care reform law may help facilitate this process. An example is the Palm Beach County Community Health NETwork. In 2007, the Florida Public Health Institute (FPHI) embarked on a mis-sion to convene providers of health care services to the uninsured and underin-on-line portal containing an interactive version of the map with links to com-munity resources and information. The NETwork map serves multiple audiences with the potential to meet a range of additional community needs. Caseworkers and those seeking services may utilize it to identify and locate appropriate agencies, clinics or practi-tioners. Visually presenting gaps in the county’s safety net has implications for policymaking and resource allocation. Layering the map with other public services such as bus routes and other public transportation, parks and recre-ational facilities, and water and sewer Participation in the Community Health NETwork has expanded to include additional human service agencies, the local medical society, hospitals and other important community providers. serving the population of those living and/or working near the hospital. The result is a community needs assessment clearly documenting new and emerg-ing pockets of unmet needs within the hospital’s service. That assessment is driving development of a new clinic in that area and may serve the hospital in applying for increased access to federal funds. Furthermore, it is serving as a model for a similar project in Indian River County, located three counties to the north of Palm Beach County. Additionally, a nonprofi t human ser-vice agency dedicated to Palm Beach County’s non-English speaking resi-dents recently retained its offi ce space in a municipal building. One factor may have been that improved dialogue among local policymakers, facilitated by the NETwork, increased an aware-ness of unmet needs. Under the new federal health care law there is a great opportunity and incentive for communities across the nation to establish similar col-laborations. The law requires all non-profi t hospitals and medical clinics to conduct, by 2014, a community health needs assessment to main-tain their nonprofi t status. Due to this requirement, earmarked or new See Health Care on page 32 Palm Beach County’s Community Health NETwork Convening Safety-Net Providers to Build a Comprehensive System of Care sured residents of Palm Beach County. With local grant funding, its goal was to promote cooperation among safety-net providers and identify gaps in access to care and opportunities for coordina-tion and resource sharing. Since then, participation in the Community Health NETwork has expanded to include addi-tional human service agencies, the local medical society, hospitals and other important community providers. With the providers’ input, the Community Health NETwork began mapping the location of each health clinic and medical practice serving the uninsured, underinsured and Medicaid population. As participation in the NETwork has grown beyond agencies traditionally associated with health services, mapping capabilities have expanded to include other vital services contributing to the community’s overall health. The NETwork currently is coop-erating with the community to build an services may help county and munici-pal planners ensure that these systems are integrated for the highest level of public benefi t. The Community Health NETwork also has served as the basis for bring-ing new resources into the county. Not only is the map an important tool for agencies seeking grants or other fund-ing, the relationships developed and the increased dialogue and coopera-tion among public and private agen-cies through the NETwork has helped both foster and support initiatives that promise far-reaching impacts for access of services. For example, the Florida Public Health Institute was contracted by a local hospital to help explain the dra-matic increase in the number of unin-sured patients accessing its emergency room for non-emergent conditions. FPHI utilized NETwork map data and NETwork relationships with agencies 28 Policy & Practice October 2011
Health Care
Claude Earl
Palm Beach County's Community Health NETwork<br /> <br /> Convening Safety-Net Providers to Build a Comprehensive System of Care<br /> <br /> Faced with the paradox of budget cuts and increased demand, locallevel collaboration among public- and private-sector human service agencies has the potential to extend, and perhaps increase, resources while providing families with a broader range of services. Requirements of the new federal health care reform law may help facilitate this process.<br /> <br /> An example is the Palm Beach County Community Health NETwork. In 2007, the Florida Public Health Institute (FPHI) embarked on a mission to convene providers of health care services to the uninsured and underinsured residents of Palm Beach County. With local grant funding, its goal was to promote cooperation among safety-net providers and identify gaps in access to care and opportunities for coordination and resource sharing. Since then, participation in the Community Health NETwork has expanded to include additional human service agencies, the local medical society, hospitals and other important community providers.<br /> <br /> With the providers' input, the Community Health NETwork began mapping the location of each health clinic and medical practice serving the uninsured, underinsured and Medicaid population. As participation in the NETwork has grown beyond agencies traditionally associated with health services, mapping capabilities have expanded to include other vital services contributing to the community's overall health. The NETwork currently is cooperating with the community to build an on-line portal containing an interactive version of the map with links to community resources and information.<br /> <br /> The NETwork map serves multiple audiences with the potential to meet a range of additional community needs. Caseworkers and those seeking services may utilize it to identify and locate appropriate agencies, clinics or practitioners. Visually presenting gaps in the county's safety net has implications for policymaking and resource allocation. Layering the map with other public services such as bus routes and other public transportation, parks and recreational facilities, and water and sewer services may help county and municipal planners ensure that these systems are integrated for the highest level of public benefit.<br /> <br /> The Community Health NETwork also has served as the basis for bringing new resources into the county. Not only is the map an important tool for agencies seeking grants or other funding, the relationships developed and the increased dialogue and cooperation among public and private agencies through the NETwork has helped both foster and support initiatives that promise far-reaching impacts for access of services.<br /> <br /> For example, the Florida Public Health Institute was contracted by a local hospital to help explain the dramatic increase in the number of uninsured patients accessing its emergency room for non-emergent conditions.<br /> <br /> FPHI utilized NETwork map data and NETwork relationships with agencies serving the population of those living and/or working near the hospital. The result is a community needs assessment clearly documenting new and emerging pockets of unmet needs within the hospital's service. That assessment is driving development of a new clinic in that area and may serve the hospital in applying for increased access to federal funds. Furthermore, it is serving as a model for a similar project in Indian River County, located three counties to the north of Palm Beach County.<br /> <br /> Additionally, a nonprofit human service agency dedicated to Palm Beach County's non-English speaking residents recently retained its office space in a municipal building. One factor may have been that improved dialogue among local policymakers, facilitated by the NETwork, increased an awareness of unmet needs.<br /> <br /> Under the new federal health care law there is a great opportunity and incentive for communities across the nation to establish similar collaborations. The law requires all nonprofit hospitals and medical clinics to conduct, by 2014, a community health needs assessment to maintain their nonprofit status. Due to this requirement, earmarked or new resources may be available to support such activity. Developing a network of health and human service providers is a way to launch a community needs assessment while creating an entity that will continue contributing in the future to the fabric of a community's safety net.<br /> <br /> A key ingredient to building a successful network is engaging a knowledgeable and respected organization, which does not provide direct services, to facilitate. The Florida Public Health Institute continues to serve this function in Palm Beach County. There are several good reasons for this approach including:<br /> <br /> The facilitating organization does not compete for funding among member organizations.<br /> <br /> Few public agencies have the staff and time to dedicate to such an effort.<br /> <br /> An independent organization is not constrained by political boundaries.<br /> <br /> The facilitating organization may identify opportunities to utilize the network to help address public health issues that transcend the immediate mission of any single member agency.<br /> <br /> By supporting the formation of, and active participation in a local human service collaborative like the Community Health NETwork, human service agency leaders may play a vital role in assisting their organization and their entire community in navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by federal and state health care reform in the face of shrinking budgets and increased demand.<br /> <br /> Claude Earl Fox is the executive director of the Florida Public Health Institute.<br /> <br /> Debora Kerr is the chief financial officer<br /> of the Florida Public Health Institute.
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