Opinion: Barton meeting community’s health needs
By John Williams
It takes collaboration and action to meet a community’s health needs. In March 2012, Barton Health engaged with the community to complete a comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) of South Lake Tahoe’s health needs.
Part of the Affordable Care Act, all nonprofit hospitals must identify health needs for vulnerable, often under-served, populations within their community and create an action plan to address these needs. Using community input, local data, and a team of dedicated community stakeholders, three top health gaps specific to our area were identified: substance abuse, access to healthcare, and mental health. In two years, since the initial CHNA took place, Barton has taken action to address pressing health issues and better serve our local residents.
John Williams
Substance abuse is prevalent in South Lake Tahoe; the area has four times the national average of illicit drug use, a high percentage of chronic drinkers, and a higher rate of drug-induced deaths. By 11th grade, 74 percent of South Tahoe High School students admitted using alcohol and 56 percent had tried marijuana.
To help reduce substance abuse, some of Barton’s efforts include: Participating in and financially sponsoring Every 15 Minutes and the Drug Store Project – discouraging alcohol and drug use by local youth. Joining and now chairing monthly South Tahoe Drug Free Coalition meetings. Donating $7,500 toward local nonprofits with the goal of reducing substance abuse. Hosting a physician seminar to discuss drug addiction and pain management. Facilitating a six-session training on best pain management practices for healthcare providers in the county.
There are many barriers that cause a lack of access to healthcare, including lack of insurance coverage and financial barriers. To improve access, Barton has: Expanded the Community Health Center by 3,000 feet and added seven exam rooms to help under and uninsured. Services expanded to include Saturdays and same-day appointments. Increased our Telehealth services to include eight different specialties, allowing patients to speak to specialists locally, saving time and travel. Launched BWell, with discounted cash pay CT, EKG, and lab services and free wellness lectures. Donated over 700 hours of staff time to help over 125 uninsured families navigate CoveredCA.com and enroll in a healthcare plan. Implemented “Transitions in Care” that provides free at-home visits for patients with certain chronic medical conditions after being released from the hospital.
The third issue prioritized was mental health. Barton has: Hired a full-time child psychiatrist who provides services at Barton Psychiatry and Barton Community Health Center, and expanded tele-psychiatry services with four contracted psychiatrists. Provided $28,000 in grants for local nonprofits that service people with mental health needs. Hosted a community health forum on mental health needs. Published five mental health articles and conducted two community lectures on mental health needs. Ongoing grief support for the community and an annual children’s bereavement camp.
In an on-going effort to serve our community, Barton Health will be collecting input from residents for the next assessment in 2015. The public will participate in phone surveys, public health data will be gathered, and focus groups will provide a clinical and social service perspective.
To view a complete report of Barton’s results to address the CHNA, go online.
John Williams is CEO of Barton Health.
That all sounds good Mr Williams, but what about the extremely high prices?? An MRI of the back at Barton starts at $3000 — I can get that same MRI in Carson for $1000. My Barton doctor had me get some labs — $600 at Barton, but if I’d driven off the hill and had them drawn at Labcorp it would have been only $250 (my husband sees a non-Barton doc and that’s what he did, so I know the price difference). If I’d gone to Cash Lab and paid for them myself, we’re talking only $75.
The price difference is because a hospital is required by law to treat people who will not pay. And they also must accept Medicare as payment in full for services that cost more than medicare actually pays. We have a lot of indigent people in Tahoe. Barton is making up the difference by overcharging those of us who DO pay our bills.
Independent labs and surgical centers don’t have to accept deadbeats. They can charge realistic prices.
The implementation of the ACA should resolve the issues you speak of Dogula. Theoretically now that all should be insured payment will be received from all who use the facilities. Over time competition should lower costs to a realistic amount. Give it time, it is still in it’s infancy. Huge change does not happen overnight.
Theoretically.
But between all the illegal delays the President has granted, and the fact that, human nature being what it is, many people are not following the “law”, I’m not expecting any miracles anytime soon.
“The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly.” Abraham Lincoln
Dog. “The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly.” Sort of like the way Lincoln “strictly” enforced the 3/5 law of the US Constitution after the US Supreme Court had ruled on Dred Scott?