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8/ accessHealthnews.net Spring 2013 Collective Impact HCC works to improve rural health care By Tonia Wright mental health, disease management as well as specialty care. Concordia will provide urgent care services. " Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead Anthropologist, Writer, When it comes to health care, rural communities have a unique set of challenges. Some are designated as health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) because attracting medical personnel is difficult. Health factors like heart disease, obesity and diabetes, among other preventable diseases, are often seen at a higher rate per capita than in urban areas. Top that off with an aging population and the complexities of rural health care mount even higher. "The Live Well Health & Wellness Centers of Waverly and Concordia are a collaborative effort to provide health care for people regardless of their ability to pay," said HCC Executive Director, Toniann Richard. "We want to create health homes for area residents that treat the whole person. We believe that if we make navigating through the health care system easier, we will help the people we serve become better stewards of their health. This means lowering the incidence of preventable disease." The HCC is also making moves to ensure the clinics' best practices include health literacy, so that patients and medical staff are able to communicate clearly and effectively. These efforts will also focus on the clinics' migrant farm worker population. Humble beginnings For HCC, getting to this point The Health Care Collaborative has been a long haul. The (HCC) of Rural Missouri may not group's mission, which began be a household name, but they back in 2006, is to advocate for are touching many of the region's households daily. Using a collaborative approach, HCC works to identify and address the most pervasive health care needs of area residents. Through partnerships with Lafayette Regional Health Center, I-70 Community Hospital, Pathways Community Health, area schools, social services, the business community and other nonprofits, the HCC has touched the lives of area residents for almost a decade. As a result, Lexington, MO-based HCC is recognized as one of the premier rural health networks in the country. Live Well Clinics On June 1, HCC's focus on rural health care will be taken to a whole new level when the 501 (c)(3) nonprofit assumes ownership of two rural health care clinics in Waverly and Concordia. Waverly services include primary care, dental, the health and well-being of rural Missourians. HCC, then known as the Health Care Coalition of Lafayette County, was created through collaborative efforts from six organizations: Lafayette County Health Department, Lafayette Regional Health Center, Pathways Community Health, Care Connection for Aging Services, Lexington 4Life Center and Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center. "The group wanted to close gaps where health disparities existed," Richard said. "They looked at the unmet needs of the community, developed comprehensive plans and secured funding to address those needs." Since the early days, HCC has grown tremendously. When Richard came on board in 2007, the nonprofit had two staffers— Richard and Financial Officer Laurie Lichte. Today, HCC employs eight people. That number will grow to over 30 with ownership of the new clinics. network, HCC secures grant funds and disburses these funds to various organizations that also work to make health care more accessible to the uninsured and underserved. HIT: Health Information Technology Health information technology (HIT) is one case in point. HIT has many legs. One aspect of HIT is electronic health records or EHRs, a digital format that offers portability, while reducing medical errors and redundancy in care. Another aspect of HIT enables rural residents to stay in their own communities while visiting with specialists in other cities. This is called telemedicine. In both instances, HCC has secured grant funds to help area providers implement this technology. "The HCC serves a fantastic role in creating opportunities for hospitals to implement or enhance telemedicine services," said James Noble, director of lab, marketing and technology at I-70 Community Hospital in Sweet Springs, MO. "With HCC stepping in the middle, hospitals are able to let their guard down Not only has the staff grown, but and collaborate. We know that the depth and scope of HCC HCC isn't in this for one provider programs have grown too. over another. They are in it for Operating as a rural health (continued on page 9)

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