Sunday, December 22, 2024
12/22/2024
Chronic disease mortality rates, specifically those that are treatable and/or curable through preventative medicine and early screening, outpaces a number of other countries worldwide even though healthcare accounts for roughly 20% of the national GDP. With an enhanced focus on preventative medicine and chronic disease management/screening, not only would the national mortality rates and overall health of the nation improve, but the severity of illness on average would be lower – this has the potential to reduce health care costs. Alabama has one of the worst mortality rates for chronic disease in the United States. Escambia County has a 54% higher mortality rate of breast cancer, 44% higher mortality rate of cardiovascular disease, and a 42% higher stroke incident rate than the national averages. Further, Alabama is 2nd in the nation for deaths caused by stroke per capita and 4th in the nation for cardiovascular deaths per capita. When these diseases are diagnosed earlier through screening process, the chance of survival and overall prognosis is significantly improved. These disparities of care, though impactful on the entire community, disproportionately impact minority communities due to limitations on access to care as it relates to services. Despite ongoing financial challenges facing many rural hospitals across the country, Atmore Community Hospital has begun aggressive, targeted efforts to improve these disparities through capital purchases (most recently 3D mammography and fluoroscopy units), an agreement with UAB to provide specific tele-specialty services, a new facility, and marketing efforts outlining the services that patients can receive in their own community. This is due to the deep-rooted belief of the importance of localized healthcare and the responsibility we have to the community that we serve. Access is limited when patients do not have the means to travel out of the county and services are not available close by. It is cr itically important that Atmore Community Hospital be able to update capital equipment across interdisciplinary clinical departments in order to directly impact these disparities of care and accelerate meaningful impact on chronic disease in our community and surrounding areas. This project will allow Atmore Community Hospital to acquire an array of capital equipment that will allow for a better access to radiological imaging, improved laboratory testing, enhanced cardiopulmonary testing capabilities, modernized utilization of interfacing expediting clinical decision making, and maximize emergency care capabilities. All of these areas take aim at increasing the access to quality care locally. This increased access is likely to have substantial impact on the mortality rates, improving outcomes for patients.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).