Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program - Tillamook County Health & Human Services Department’s (HHS) Community Health Center (CHC) plans to strengthen rural community health interventions and enhance care coordination through the Tillamook County Healthcare Network (TCHN). The HSRA Rural Health Network Development Planning Program (Regular Network Planning Track)will support TCHN in planning and developing strategies for improving the rural healthcare network. The purpose of the TCHN project is to engage and convene network health care partners, key stakeholders, and the target population to identify and address barriers to accessing care by (1) using data to inform decision-making; and (2) identifying and addressing training, outreach, health promotion, data collection, and logistical and resource challenges that impede system change. TCHN’s goal is to improve access to care for high-risk populations, particularly low-income individuals, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), and people with disabilities, in order to reduce health disparities, improve health outcomes, and decrease the number of people at risk for Type 2 Diabetes. We aim to achieve our goal by increasing trust, competence, and timely access to care, including for health-related social needs, through the utilization of the Connect Oregon Network for making referrals between healthcare and community-based organizations, Community Health Workers (CHWs), data analysis and exploration of workflows aligned with value- based payment models. We will achieve our goal by: · Improving healthcare system communication and collaboration through a new healthcare network, Tillamook County Healthcare Network (TCHN), with shared goals, priorities, and formal agreements; · Improving healthcare partners’ understanding of community health needs and barriers to accessing care through the use of the data and community input in decision-making. · Improving target populations’ ability to engage in community resources that meet self-identified needs and priorities (culturally competent, language appropriate; timely response; without judgment, etc.) by developing a framework for implementing the use of Community Health Workers and increasing referrals between healthcare and community-based organizations through the solidification of the Connect Oregon community referral system TCHN will address gaps in the existing healthcare system by increasing access to care and improving health outcomes by improving clinical integration, public health integration, and community integration, with equity at the center. Our proposed project will focus on all three legislative aims, with a particular emphasis on Aim #2, which includes expanding access to, coordinating, and improving the quality of basic healthcare services and associated health outcomes for low-income individuals, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), and people with disabilities.
