Project Grant P1053104

RURAL HEALTH NETWORK DEVELOPMENT PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM - ANDREA STEPHENSON, NETWORK DIRECTOR 561.386.4222 ASTEPHENSON@HCSEF.ORG TIFFANY PARRISH, PROJECT DIRECTOR 561.844.4220 TPARRISH@HCSEF.ORG LORHN'S PROPOSED PROJECT ALIGNS WITH ALL THREE LEGISLATIVE AIMS AND THE FOCUS AREA IS IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE MATERNAL/PERINATAL HEALTH OUTCOMES THROUGH INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION AND THE EXPANSION OF MATERNAL TELEHEALTH SERVICES. SERVICE AREA IS A RURAL REGION IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA: HENDRY, GLADES, AND OKEECHOBEE COUNTIES, AND THE FAR-WESTERN COMMUNITIES OF PALM BEACH COUNTY (CENSUS TRACTS : 80.01 (CANAL POINT); 80.02 (PAHOKEE); 81.01, 81.02, 82.01, 82.02,82.03 (BELLE GLADE); AND 83.01,83.02 (SOUTH BAY). LORHN WILL FOCUS ON KEY STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE MATERNAL/PERINATAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT, BUT WITH A SUCCESSFUL PLAN, ESSENTIALLY EVERYONE IN THE SERVICE AREA BENEFITS WITH IMPROVED HEALTH OUTCOMES, LOWER COSTS, AND IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE. ADDITIONALLY, THE LINGERING DISPARITIES THAT PLAGUE RURAL COMMUNITIES MAY BE MITIGATED TO SOME DEGREE, E.G. INEQUITIES ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER INCOMES, RACE, E.G. BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN, ETHNICITY, E.G. HISPANIC, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT STATUS, LACK OF INSURANCE, AND EDUCATION MAY IMPROVE. LORHN HAS 10 NETWORK/BOARD MEMBERS: HENDRY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL), HCA FLORIDA RAULERSON (RURAL HOSPITAL), FLORIDA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS (FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER), FOUR COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS (OKEECHOBEE, GLADES, HENDRY, AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES), PAHOKEE HOUSING AUTHORITY (HUD SUPPORTED & SUBSIDIZED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS), AND TWO CONSUMER/COMMUNITY ADVOCATES. CURRENTLY, 80% OF THESE ARE IN A HRSA-DESIGNATED RURAL AREA AND ALL SERVE RURAL POPULATIONS. LORHN'S PROPOSED SUB-NETWORK, 'MATERNAL/PERINATAL ACCESS NETWORK' (MPAN) HAS NINE INITIAL MEMBERS THAT HAVE COMMITTED: HEALTHY START COALITION OF OKEECHOBEE, PREGNANCY CENTER OF OKEECHOBEE (HEALTHCARE PROVIDER), HEALTHY START COALITION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, ACT (ABUSE , COUNSELING & TREATMENT) (PROVIDER OF SUPPORT SERVICES), HEALTHY MOTHERS HEALTHY BABIES COALITION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY (PROVIDER), THE DOULA NETWORK (ADVOCACY), PATHWAYS TO WELLNESS FOUNDATION, INC. (HEALTHCARE PROVIDER), FLORIDA RURAL LEGAL SERVICES (LEGAL/ADVOCACY), AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF SOUTH FLORIDA (FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT, AND HOUSING STABILITY). ALL (100%) ARE IN A HRSA-DESIGNATED RURAL AREA. LORHN AND MPAN MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLABORATE, INTEGRATE SOME FUNCTIONS, AND/OR SHARE RESOURCES, DATA, AND LESSONS LEARNED TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO MATERNAL/PERINATAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE SERVICE AREA. ESTABLISHED IN STATUTE BY THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE IN 1994, LORHN HAS SERVED RURAL UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS FOR SEVERAL DECADES. COMMITTED PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS SOME CHALLENGING ISSUES OVER THE YEARS BY PROVIDING NEEDED SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE: VITAL HEALTH EDUCATION, HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT, NAVIGATION, HEALTH SCREENINGS, AND REFERRAL/LINKAGE SERVICES, CARE COORDINATION, CHRONIC DISEASE SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, ETC. LORHN HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH FUNDING FROM LOCAL FOUNDATIONS, LOCAL/STATE MUNICIPALITIES, HRSA, AND CDC. THE NETWORK HAS ALSO HOSTED AN ANNUAL RURAL HEALTH SYMPOSIUM PROVIDING EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES TO RURAL PROVIDERS. LORHN HAS AGREEMENTS WITH MEMBERS (REVIEWED EVERY TWO YEARS). STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING RESIDENTS, WILL BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN MPAN THROUGH PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION, IDENTIFICATION OF PRIORITIES, AND ACTION PLANNING. THEY WILL BENEFIT FROM ONGOING NETWORK OPERATIONS THROUGH INCREASED AWARENESS OF MATERNAL/PERINATAL HEALTH SERVICES, IMPROVED ACCESS TO SERVICES, AND ENHANCED QUALITY OF SERVICES. LORHN LEARNED OF THIS OPPORTUNITY FROM THE HRSA NEWS RELEASE AND NRHA. THE NETWORK REQUESTS A FUNDING PREFERENCE BASED INCLUSION OF HPSAS, MUC/MUPS, AND INCRE ASING ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE.