Networked Health Care Access
Project in Plumas County

Project Overview

Reducing health disparities in Plumas County by improving access to the health system for residents is a major goal of this program, which is implementing pilot projects in Plumas County schools. The Networked Health Care Access Project will explore how networked and coordinated health services can most effectively meet identified health care needs, improve student performance, and improve quality of life.

The Sierra Institute has partnered with Plumas County Public Health Agency and others to create a Local Health Access Coalition to address pressing health access concerns, like outreach, enrollment, retention, and utilization of public benefits in our communities. In addition, we work to improve language access capabilities and cultural competency for the Limited English Proficient (LEP) population.

Working with our partners, we have identified core activities for the project involving: creating networks of health and human services providers to improve service delivery, improving coordination of care, and quality of care; using telemedicine to increase the number of children who are screened and provided services for disruptive behaviors, chronic diseases, such as asthma and diabetes, and other health issues; using telecommunication technology to bring additional health education to the schools; and using telemedicine connect children to health providers when transportation and other barriers exist.

Partners

With generous funding from the California Endowment and the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Sierra Institute works with a variety of partners including Plumas County Public Health Agency, Plumas County Mental Health Agency, Plumas District Hospital, Eastern Plumas Health Care, Seneca Healthcare District, the Greenville Ranchería, and the University of California, San Francisco.

Hospital Network Conducts Assessment and Improvement Plan

The Northern Sierra Collaborative Health Network (NSCHN) is dedicated to strengthening a community-wide system of primary health care services available to all residents.  One of the first group projects is a community health assessment to examine how the districts are serving their communities. A key NSCHN goal is to invest in local primary care and take responsibility for healing local ailing health systems. Taxpayers and hospitals bear the brunt of unnecessary costs for untreated health conditions.  Coordination and collaborations can simultaneously reduce costs and improve health care services.   Improving quality and reducing costs through prevention and primary care are essential parts of this local effort.

Community residents will be invited to participate in the town hall meetings that will be scheduled starting in October 2011 and advertised in local newspapers.

County Healthcare Districts Launch Collaborative Group

In an unprecedented move that illustrates the growing importance of collaboration, Plumas District Hospital, Eastern Plumas Health Care District and Seneca District Hospital have joined together to improve health services across Plumas and Sierra Counties. The new alliance, called the Northern Sierra Collaborative Health Network (NSCHN), also includes the Plumas County Public Health Agency and Sierra County Health and Human Services, and Sierra Institute, which is co-facilitating the new group with Plumas county Public Health Agency.

The leaders of the health care districts understand that networking and collaboration can improve health services and may be critical to their long-term sustainability. Tom Hayes of Eastern Plumas Health Care District said, "Rural hospitals face unique challenges and the key to our long-term success will be increased collaboration with our neighbors. There are many benefits to greater cooperation, and I think the time is right for us to start making meaningful progress towards this goal."

The three health care districts have not formally collaborated to this extent in the past; however, top administrators from each organization have committed to regular collaborative meetings to identify priorities and projects to advance joint work. The group began meeting in September 2010 to initiate discussion about cooperative programs and funding opportunities. By October 2010, it submitted a Network Planning grant to the US Department of Health and Human Services, which would provide grant funds to support the development of joint planning activities and help these plans become operational.

The NSCHN is dedicated to strengthening a community-wide system of primary health care services available to all residents. One of the first group projects is a community health assessment to examine how the districts are serving their communities. The assessment will involved key public stakeholders and private partners.

A key NSCHN goal is to invest in local primary care and take responsibility for healing local ailing health systems. Taxpayers and hospitals bear the brunt of unnecessary costs for untreated health conditions. Coordination and collaborations can simultaneously reduce costs and improve health care services. Improving quality and reducing costs through prevention and primary care are essential parts of this local effort.

The group is currently exploring opportunities for joint staffing, including physician recruitment and retention, and working to advance projects focused on electronic health records and telehealth specialty care services.

Plumas County Public Health Agency Director Mimi Hall said, "we need to take bold steps to coordinate care, improve quality, and contain costs. We can improve health outcomes while demonstrating quantifiable savings by investing in a collaborative, patient-centered approach."

NSCHN members feel the proposed project is a needed, innovative way to meet the unique health care needs of Plumas and Sierra residents. Jonathan Kusel, Executive Director of the Sierra Institute, said, "The partnership is an investment int he community, and a healthier community is a stronger, more prosperous one."

All agree that the Northern Sierra Collaborative Health Network holds the potential for paving hte way to identify other creative solutions to better meet the unique needs of Plumas and Sierra residents today and into the future.