RUSH OAK PARK HOSPITAL. FY14 FY16 Implementation Strategy

RUSH OAK PARK HOSPITAL FY14 FY16 Implementation Strategy

Introduction For more than 100 years, Rush Oak Park Hospital has been dedicated to providing exceptional and compassionate health care to its surrounding community. Since 2007, Rush Oak Park Hospital has conducted a community benefits report that highlights the many ways in which Rush Oak Park Hospital serves its community. In FY13, Rush Oak Park Hospital conducted a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) to understand the specific health needs of the community, in accordance with Section 501(r) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For the purposes of the CHNA and this implementation strategy, the Rush Oak Park Hospital service area has been defined as the zip codes of 60301, 60302, 60304, 60305, 60130, which includes the townships of Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park. Many initiatives of the hospital cover additional surrounding community areas as well. The CHNA process integrates public health data, community interviews, and an internal steering committee in order to identify the top health needs of the community. The top three health needs (with applicable sub-categories) identified and described in the CHNA will be addressed by this implementation strategy. The top three community health needs include: Access to Health Care Services Chronic Disease & Risk Factors: Heart Disease, Lung Disease, and Diabetes Mental Health & Addiction 2

Community Benefit Planning Priority Health Needs of the Rush Oak Park Service Area This section defines each top health need identified through the CHNA process in FY13. The CHNA process will be repeated on a tri-annual basis. We hope our efforts, as outlined in this implementation strategy, will improve the health of our community with results reflected in our next CHNA. Below is a brief description and definition of each top health need. Access to Health Care Services Access to health care services includes structural and financial barriers to receiving high quality health care. Structural barriers include difficulties with transportation, obtaining appointments, and receiving continuous care. Patients in the Rush Oak Park Hospital service area had difficulty in the past year accessing care, and cited reasons such as inconvenient hours, difficulty getting appointments, and difficulty finding a physician. Financial constraints and costs have also prevented access to care and prescription medication. To address this health need, Rush Oak Park Hospital will support programs by providing financial assistance to patients with certain income restrictions and by partnering with other organizations in the community that complement the services Rush Oak Park Hospital offers while increasing access to residents in the community area. Chronic Disease & Risk Factors Three chronic diseases have been identified as major areas of concern in the Oak Park area. These three diseases are: heart disease, diabetes and chronic lung disease. Our CHNA not only identifies these diseases as health needs but includes the risk factors for each disease was well. Heart Disease & Cardiovascular Risk Factors This health need includes heart disease and the risk factors of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States and in the Rush Oak Park Hospital area, residents have higher percentages of risk factors than recommended. Rush Oak Park Hospital is committed to offering programs that educate patients on healthy behaviors aimed at reducing risk factors. Rush Oak Park Hospital also offers many screening opportunities for patients to identify those at risk. Diabetes This health need includes risk factors for pre-diabetes and diabetes. Risk factors for pre-diabetes include hypertension, obesity, and high glucose. The Rush Oak Park Hospital Service area has a diabetes prevalence rate higher than the United States average with additional proportions of the population at risk for pre-diabetes. Rush is committed to addressing the risk factors of pre-diabetes and diabetes through education and health promotion. Chronic Lung Disease & Smoking This health need includes chronic lung disease and lung cancer. Eighteen percent of Rush Oak Park Hospital s service area residents are current smokers. Out of these, 52 percent of smokers were given advice to quit, which is less than the national average. Mental Health & Addiction This health need includes mental health disorders such as depression and substance abuse. The Village of Oak Park s IPLAN Community Health Needs Assessment and Plan has identified mental health as a key issue in the community. Rush Oak Park Hospital is committed to those with mental health issues by providing educational programs that provide support and promote awareness and understanding of mental health disorders. Integration with Operational Planning Rush Oak Park Hospital has established a CHNA Steering Committee comprised of operational leaders throughout the organization. These individuals reviewed the CHNA data and provided recommendations for the strategies set forth in this implementation strategy. These recommendations will also be incorporated into the creation of future operational plans. The Rush Oak Park Hospital annual budget process indentifies and prioritizes strategic and operational initiatives for current and future fiscal years. This process includes creating and maintaining partnerships in our community. Current and future programmatic investments will be assessed and funded based on how these initiatives address the top health needs identified by the CHNA. 3

Community Benefit Planning Health Needs Not Addressed The implementation strategy does not address the specific mental health needs of teen alcohol and drug use, or adult alcohol use. Rush Oak Park Hospital has limited resources, services and expertise available to address alcohol, tobacco, and other substance abuse in teens and adults. Rush Oak Park Hospital also does not provide inpatient or outpatient care for mental health services. There are other resources in the community that have infrastructure and programs in place to better address these health needs, and as a result, these needs are excluded from Rush Oak Park Hospital s implementation strategy. Rush Oak Park Hospital provides patients with referrals to appropriate agencies within the community, and promotes educational programs about mental health as outlined in the next section of this document. 4

Implementation Strategy This implementation strategy outlines two specific strategies that will address the top health needs identified in the CHNA. The strategies are: Health Education & Promotion This strategy includes any program that provides educational resources or promotes healthy lifestyle behaviors though a focus on preventing risk factors. This can include, but is not limited to, support groups, health fairs, workshops, lectures, and presentations. Over the next three years, Rush Oak Park Hospital s goal is to commit $55,000 to programs and initiatives, achieving 10,000 encounters through 1000 total volunteer hours. Allocation of Corporate Resources & Building Corporate Partnerships This strategy will focus on the overall organizational and corporate resources dedicated to building partnerships and supporting organizations that address health needs in the community. Examples include: Direct funding to community programs or partnerships Organizational-wide initiatives to raise money on behalf of community partnerships Development of strategic partnerships through participation in executive boards The goal over the next three years is to directly support partnerships and programs external to Rush Oak Park Hospital that address community health needs, with a commitment of $18,000. Rush Oak Park Hospital will also focus on developing strategic partnerships by cultivating relationships with area organizations committed to improving the health of the community and through involvement in the organization s executive boards and committees. The following section provides examples of existing programming and outreach initiatives that are already making measurable impacts on the top health in our community. These examples are not an exhaustive list of all the programs that Rush Oak Park Hospital provides to the community. It is a list focusing on the addressing our top health needs. 5

Implementation Strategy Strategy: Health Education & Promotion The AGE-WISE Program is a comprehensive program developed by Rush Oak Park Hospital in 1995. This program provides educational, informational, and health-related support resources for older adults and their families. Many of the programs detailed below are integrated into the AGE-WISE Program and include educational classes, support groups, and health screenings at health fairs. Through these initiatives, AGE-WISE addresses multiple health needs, including chronic diseases and risk factors and mental health. The AGE- WISE program also serves as a referral source addressing transportation, caregivers, nursing homes, and state and county services, thus improving access to health services. at this fair. Educational materials on physical health, mental health, nutrition, and family strengthening are also available to members of the community. The AGE-WISE program offers a number of ongoing support groups aimed at meeting the mental health needs of the community. The Bereavement Support Group and Parkinson s Support Group meet monthly while the Epilepsy Support Group and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren group meet twice a month. Health fairs provide an excellent opportunity to reach members of the community and to screen individuals for potential health risks. The following list includes some of the annual health fairs in which Rush Oak Park Hospital is represented through its AGE-WISE program. The Cindy Lyons Health Fair, conducted in partnership with Howard Mohr Community Center in Forest Park, IL, provides multiple health screening to the community potentially identifying patients with chronic diseases and risk factors. The annual Diabetes Fair addresses diabetes and its risk factors by, providing blood pressure tests, A1C screenings, lipid profile blood tests, and foot and eye screenings. This fair also offers educational literature about diabetes care and related matters. This fair serves as a strong conduit for Rush Oak Park Hospital s Project Lifestyle Change Program. Rush Oak Park Hospital continues to develop its partnership with the West Cook YMCA by hosting the Senior Health and Fitness Fair with YMCA. This health fair provides education about programs and services at Rush Oak Park Hospital and the West Cook YMCA and performs blood tests screenings for PSAs, TSH, and cholesterol, potentially identifying patients with chronic diseases and risk factors. The St. Lucy/St. Catherine Health Fair is a health fair for the entire family. Several health screenings are conducted, including back to school vision, dental, and physical screenings for children, and those that focus on chronic diseases and risk factors. Cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure readings are among the specific screenings offered 6

Implementation Strategy AGE-WISE also offers numerous educational programs on topics ranging from memory and Alzheimer s disease to thyroid issues. In addition, there are several programs that focus on the community s top health needs by providing area residents with information on particular diseases and healthy living. Many programs focus on chronic heart diseases and risk factors including the Cholesterol Awareness program, aimed at educating individuals about the differences between good and bad cholesterol, Healthy Heart a program presented by a Rush Oak Park Hospital cardiologist that includes a C-reactive protein screening and lecture, and the Wear Red program that educates women about heart disease. Mental Health needs are addressed by the Depression Awareness program, which provides education about the causes and treatments of depression. The National Humor Month program, exploring the therapeutic benefits of humor, also contributes to improving the mental health of the Rush Oak Park Hospital Community. Healthy Weight Weeks 1-3 is designed to educate individuals on healthy weights and weight control by focusing on key topics each week during the three week program. The first week concentrates on starting an exercise program and is lead by a physical therapist from Rush Oak Park Hospital. The second week speaks to knowing your numbers with information on height, weight, and body max index, and the third week tackles diabetes by discussing the types and management of diabetes. This program comprehensively addresses the top health need of diabetes and chronic disease risk factor of obesity. Several AGE-WISE programs encourage physical activity and educate individuals on the benefits of exercise. Physical activity is an important component in addressing chronic diseases and risk factors as it is widely recognized that poor physical activity levels and nutrition play a major role in being overweight or obese, and in developing a variety of related chronic conditions. The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program explains exercise basics and healthy modes of exercises for those with arthritis or other joint diseases. The AGE-WISE Walking Club offers an alternative exercise regimen by providing area residents the opportunity to walk indoors during the winter months. The Rehab Series addresses staying physically active through the Creaky Joints program and Swiss Ball full body workout. Lastly, the Go for Life program motivates individuals to become more physically active by promoting everyday fitness ideas. Rush Oak Park Hospital participates in National Nutrition Month by offering a program that encourages healthy eating and as a result addresses the chronic disease risk factor of obesity. Project Lifestyle Change is a free program that focuses on the prevention of type-2 diabetes by identifying residents at risk of pre-diabetes. This is a yearlong group education and support program consisting of four weeks of group education followed by five weeks of follow up support and education. Participants in the program are instructed on blood glucose monitoring, health meal planning and exercise and behavior modification. Information about diabetes and risk factors associated with diabetes are provided by two AGE-WISE programs. Diabetes Alert Day promotes awareness by evaluating the risks of diabetes. Taking Charge of your Diabetes is program lead by an endocrinologist from Rush Oak Park Hospital that provides area residents and opportunity to learn about diabetes. A program sponsored by the American Cancer Society, The Great American Smokeout encourages smokers to use this day as the date they plan to quit, or actually quit smoking. Rush Oak Park Hospital offers this program to address chronic lung diseases and risk factors. 7

Implementation Strategy Strategy: Allocation of Corporate Resources & Building Corporate Partnerships Allocation of Corporate Resources: Hephzibah Children s Association is the oldest charity in Oak Park, IL and provides services such as group homes, foster care, family services, day care, and educational enrichment programs for vulnerable children in the area. Rush Oak Park Hospital supports this agency, its mission, and its work by donating to the organization s annual fundraising gala. Oak Park/River Forest Lions Club and Rush Oak Park Hospital have established a valuable partnership. The Lions Club is involved in programs that address vision/sight and diabetes. Rush Oak Park Hospital not only makes financial contributions to Lions Club fundraisers, but also collects supplies for donation and fosters collaboration by having representatives serve on the board of directors of the Club. The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk is a nationwide effort sponsored by the American Cancer Society, in order to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer. Rush Oak Park Hospital supports the American Cancer Society and the community walkers who want to end breast cancer by donating to the annual fundraising walk in Oak Park. Oak Park/River Forest Community Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to strengthening our community through philanthropy. Some of the initiatives supported by the Oak Park/River Forest Community Foundation include improving access to recreational facilities in the community, thus improving the fitness and physical activity of the area. The foundation also provides scholarships and resources for non-profit organizations. Rush Oak Park Hospital has proudly contributed to the Business Honor Roll by allocating corporate resources toward this program. Rush Oak Park Hospital contributes financial resources to Dominican University s scholarship fund, increasing educational opportunities for students at the university. Dominican University s educational programs include health sciences, medical sciences, nursing, and pre-medical, and develop the health care leaders and providers of the future. Building Corporate Partnerships: Infant Welfare Society Children s Clinic and Rush Oak Park Hospital have formed a strategic partnership that benefits children and their families in the Oak Park service area. Emergency Room staff from Rush Oak Park Hospital has begun referring patients to the Children s Clinic for followup primary care. In return, the Children s Clinic refers their patients to Rush Oak Park Hospital for emergency purposes and more specialized treatment. This mutually beneficial relationship is an excellent example of collaboration and commitment to the community and greatly improves access to health services for children in the area. The West Cook YMCA Wild About Wellness program is part of a national effort between the YMCA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) called Pioneering Health Communities. The Wild About Wellness program has 6 aims that address nutrition and physical activity in the Oak Park area. Rush Oak Park Hospital s CEO is a core team member of this initiative and the collaboration between ROPH and West Cook YMCA is indicative of the commitment to changing the Oak Park environment for the better, while addressing the risk factors of chronic disease. Catholic Charities provides many services to the community, and has a number of programs dedicated to improving health care for those community members in need. Rush Oak Park Hospital provides financial resources to this organization, and thus aligns its core value of stewardship and its faith-based mission with efforts to improve health of area residents. 8