Office Visit: Health systems strengthen Oklahoma | The Journal Record

The state of Oklahoma is lucky to rely amongst a few of its largest companies a number of not-for-profit well being programs which might be mission-driven to enhance the well being of the communities they serve. Along with working hospitals and clinics that make use of tens of hundreds of Oklahomans, these vital organizations additionally develop neighborhood sources to deal with unmet well being wants. These well being programs don’t construct wealth for stockholders or company house owners, however as an alternative reinvest any extra revenues again into the neighborhood to extend entry to care, enhance well being outcomes and strengthen the neighborhood.

For a number of years now, the well being programs of Oklahoma Metropolis – Integris Well being, OU Well being, SSM St. Anthony’s, and Mercy – along with the Lynn Institute and the Oklahoma Metropolis-County Well being Division, have partnered because the Central Oklahoma Well being Influence Group. Not too long ago, this workforce performed a Group Well being Wants Evaluation. This scientific examine goals to establish well being challenges that every well being system will tackle over the course of the subsequent three years via inventive and evidence-based interventions. Among the recognized wants in our neighborhood embody lack of entry to care, meals insecurity, lack of well being training, excessive charges of weight problems and excessive charges of tobacco use.

Through the years, Oklahoma Metropolis’s well being programs have labored collectively to deal with neighborhood wants via impactful partnerships such because the Well being Alliance for the Uninsured. HAU is a community of clinics and suppliers that work collectively to supply lifesaving well being care to underserved members of our neighborhood who would in any other case go with out care. Along with different neighborhood nonprofit organizations, Oklahoma’s neighborhood well being programs are a vital security internet for Oklahomans in want.

Yearly, Oklahoma’s neighborhood well being programs make investments tons of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in applications that tackle unmet well being wants and ship outcomes for Oklahoma. These neighborhood applications present care at hospitals and clinics for free of charge for underserved members of our neighborhood, provide well being training programming, tackle meals insecurity and a lot extra. These applications are an important instrument to assist folks throughout Oklahoma obtain their well being objectives.

1000’s of Oklahomans profit yearly from the work of central Oklahoma’s well being programs. These well being programs not solely adjustments lives, but additionally cut back the burden positioned on taxpayer-funded applications. Whereas there may be nonetheless work to do, Oklahoma is a stronger and more healthy state due to the work of our neighborhood well being programs.

Timothy Pehrson is president and CEO of Integris Well being.