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North Metro’s Role in Preventative Health through involvement with the Jacksonville Health Coalition
North Metro Medical Center has been serving the residents of northern Pulaski and Lonoke counties since 1962. In more recent years, as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases have become epidemics; we have increased our role in the preventative health of our community. With a shrinking Medicare reimbursement rate and the growing problem of uninsured and underinsured patients, finding the resources to donate back to the community can often be difficult for non-profit healthcare organizations.
Rather than spending the resources to gather statistical data on the health of our community, we make use of what is already available to us. Resources such as the BRFSS (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) Community Adult Health Survey can give us a breakdown of how our community’s health needs compare with others in the state and US. As we were determining our greatest areas of need, the BRFSS showed us that Jacksonville had a higher percentage of uninsured residents when compared to the US average. In addition, we were 7% higher for elevated blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, obesity, and residents who were in general poor health.
Because we serve a lower income community, many residents have less means for preventative care which in turn creates a community in overall poorer health. This translates into increased emergency room volume each year. Patients are using the ER as their primary source of medical care because they know they will not be turned away regardless of their ability to pay.
This sparked our more active participating in preventative health. We took a leading role in our grassroots hometown health coalition. For the past three years of our involvement, we have preformed over 60 health fairs in our community, providing free blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol screenings. We have received over $70,000 in cardiovascular grant money from DHHS to help us in our efforts to make our community more cognizant of their health. We host free seminars on topics such as sleep disorders, managing stress, and understanding Medicare. We print health columns in our local newspapers. Each year we hold a Report to the Community luncheon to relay health information, such as school drug use and legislative measures, back to our community leaders. We allow groups such as TOPS, Weight Watchers, and ALANON to use our health education building to meet, free of charge. To strengthen our efforts, we also try to network with our senior center, community center, police department, firemen, and other groups interested in community wellness.
With an aging population, the need for preventative care will only grow in all of our communities across the US. Healthcare organizations must plan their roles in addressing the specific needs of their community.
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Copyright 2001-2008, North Metro Medical Center
1400 West Braden Street, N.W., P.O. Box 159
Jacksonville, AR 72076-0159
Phone: 501-985-7000
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