The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40825

Lisa Gaarde Hartsock, MPH, Community Health Services, FirstHealth of the Carolinas, 155 Memorial Dr, PO Box 3000, Pinehurst, NC 28374, (910) 215-1922, lhartsock@firsthealth.org

The public health system is unable to solely assure the health and welfare of the community. By engaging the local hospital or healthcare system, the work of caring for the community is enhanced. Through the community benefit program, the healthcare system can develop strategies in collaboration with other agencies to improve access to care and health status of its residents. This plan consists of organizational policies, leadership development, allocated resources and dedicated staff to effectively create valuable programs with documented returns to the system and more importantly to the community.

Learning Objectives: "At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Articulate the role of the not-for-profit healthcare system in providing for the health of the community."
• Describe a formal approach by which a healthcare system can engage its employees, local agencies and communities to improve access to care for the underserved."
• Identify replicatable policies and practices that make the community benefit program successful and effective."

Keywords: Collaboration, Access to Care

Related Web page: www.firsthealth.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: FirstHealth of the Carolinas, Inc., the not-for-profit healthcare system that operates a formal community benefit program
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.