Columbus Community Hospital
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2015 CHIP Implementation Plan

The following “health priorities” were identified as recommended areas of intervention under the 2015 Community Health Needs Assessment:

  • Access to health care.
  • Obesity.
  • Substance abuse.
  • Family support.
  • Mental health.

Although CCH collaborated with other organizations when conducting its CHNA and developing implementation strategies, the hospital must meet the requirement to adopt an implementation strategy with respect to its own facility.

To do this, CCH must adopt a written plan with respect to the hospital facility it operates that addresses each of the community health needs identified through the CHNA by either (1) describing how CCH plans to meet the identified health need or (2) describing the health need as one CCH does not intend to meet, along with an explanation as to why it does not intend to meet such need.

In accordance with this directive, this document is intended to constitute the implementation strategy of CCH in relation to the 2015 CHNA.

CCH will work hand in hand with the ECDHD and other health- and business-related agencies to address these community needs. Specifically, CCH will take the lead in addressing the identified needs of access to health care and obesity by conducting the activities described below.

It will support the identified needs of family support, mental health and substance abuse as requested by other participants of the CHNA that have agreed to take the lead on these areas because they already have programs in place and expertise in these areas.

Access to health care – Improve access to comprehensive, quality health care services. The goal is to increase the percent of people who visit a doctor in the past 12 months from 62% to 65% (which is up from 52% in 2009). The core group has been working together since late 2012, and at the June 2015 CHIP meeting, the group reenergized and recommitted to increasing access to health care in Platte County. One of the main goals is to increase access to preventive screenings and quality health care services across Platte County. CCH will take the lead exploring and/or implementing the following:

  • Objective: Reduce the death rate from cancer of the uterine/cervix. 
    • Action step: Staff utilized several avenues of increasing cancer prevention such as speaking at the “100 Miles in 100 Days” walking promotion, and connecting with the public at the Farm Show at Ag Park and YMCA Health Fair. Cervical cancer awareness and screening was specifically promoted during a women’s basketball game at Central Community College in Columbus.
    • A total of 647 free cervical cancer screens were completed at the area health center.
  • Objective: Reduce the female breast cancer death rate.
    • Action step: Thirty-nine women in the Columbus Good Neighbor Health Center received referrals for mammograms through the Susan G. Komen grant funding.
    • Mammography funding was offered by the CCH Foundation between May 1, 2015, and April 30, 2017, and promotional materials in English and Spanish were distributed.
    • In 2017, the Good Neighbor Community Health Center continues to offer vouchers for free or reduced-price mammograms. It is expected to continue efforts to increase screenings.
    • Started working on a breast cancer survivor celebration.
  • Objective: To reduce one of the barriers to care, look at the feasibility of creating volunteer transportation program for patients. 
    • Action Step: By June 2016, a cancer transportation van was fully operational with a combination of volunteer and paid drivers. As of the end of June 2016, the van had made 122 round trips to doctor appointments, chemotherapy or radiation visits. It had made round trips from more than 20 surrounding towns.
    • Expanded patient transportation with cab service.
  • Objective: Explore other disease health screening opportunities to increase access to health care and develop a plan to address early screening.
    • Action step: In January 2017, the Tune Up for Life event was held, which offered numerous free screenings and educational materials. More than 200 people attended. Plans were made to change the date to October 2017 to increase participation in the event. Multiple screenings will again be offered.
    • Offered head and neck cancer screenings.
    • Offered Healthy Mobile bus health screenings.
    • Started working on a senior festival, which would offer health screenings.
  • Objective: Facilitate communication opportunities between providers and patients to increase access to care.
    • Action step: CCH will continue to work with St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center on the nurse triage telephone service. CCH is the lead for the medical resource guide. From May 1, 2016, through May 31, 2017, the nurse triage telephone service managed 1,438 calls. This nurse triage line continues to be utilized and in demand with our patients as well as our area physicians.
    • CCH launched eHealth library on CCH website.
    • Continued physician recruitment.
    • Enhanced tele-health psychiatry, geriatric, endocrinology and pulmonary services.
    • Continued working on behavioral health service line expansion.
  • Objective: Provide community screenings and an information day regarding diabetes. 
    • Action step: Held an annual community Diabetes Awareness Day in October 2016. Planning for October 10, 2017, for the next Diabetes Awareness Day, which will feature multiple vendors and educational sessions available to the public.
Obesity – In late 2015, the Columbus Community Hospital Coalition merged with the Platte County Lifestyle Improvement Coalition, which brought together two smaller groups of community members to move forward with the Family Health and Wellness coalition. This coalition (formally known as youth and adult obesity) developed as a direct result of the June 2012 CHIP and has worked diligently to promote healthy weights and reduce chronic disease risks. One goal of the coalition is to decrease the obesity rates in area youth in kindergarten through 6th grade and students in grades 7-12.
  • Objective: Promote healthy weights and reduce chronic disease risks.
    • Action step: Reviewing the data from the pilot Complete Health Improvement Program being conducted. Using the pilot data, determine if pilot should be extended to reach larger audience.
    • Continuing to provide monthly nutrition and physical activity education electronically to businesses linked with Occupational Health Services.
    • Started offering healthy cooking classes and created a Therapy Wellness Garden that gives people access to fruit and vegetables.

Family support – This group’s purpose is to support the family. Its plan is to increase the proportion of children who are ready for school in all five domains of healthy development. This coalition has had several activities in Platte County.

Substance abuse – Reduce substance abuse to protect the health, safety and quality of life for all, especially children in grades 6-12. The ECDHD, Columbus Police Department and Platte County Sheriff’s Department will take the lead in exploring and/or implementing the objectives and action steps. CCH will provide advice and support as requested.

Mental health – Improve mental health through prevention and by ensuring access to appropriate, quality mental health services. The Platte County Mental Health CHIP Group will take the lead in exploring and/or implementing the objectives and action steps. CCH will provide advice and support as requested.

Implementation strategy approval

By resolution of the CCH board of directors at a meeting held on Aug. 27, 2017 the 2015 CHNA and 2015 CHIP implementation strategy were adopted and approved by the board members, and directed to be posted on CCH's website and attached to its Form 990.