PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County health department and Olympic Medical Center are hosting a Community Health Summit on Wednesday to set priorities and chart the future course for health care system reform.
The summit will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Peninsula College Longhouse, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
It is open to the public, but space is limited.
Anyone interested in attending is asked to RSVP Iva Burks, Clallam County Health and Human Services director, at iburks@co.clallam.wa.us.
Topics will include the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and efforts to improve the health of the community.
Parallel planning
Based on input from the summit, the county health department and OMC will finalize parallel planning documents: the county’s Community Health Improvement Plan and OMC’s Community Health Needs Assessment.
The reports will be distributed by the end of this year, with implementation slated for 2014.
The two plans share an overarching goal to “identify, prioritize and effectively address community health needs,” according to a joint statement from the health department and hospital district.
OMC and the health department have hosted two planning meetings to identify the following community health needs:
■ Mental health and early identification of problems, improved access to outpatient services and a better crisis-intervention system.
■ Expanded chronic disease prevention and management efforts, including nutrition and physical activity.
■ Promotion of the medical home model of health care and increasing availability of primary care providers.
■ Reduction of substance abuse, including opiates, methamphetamine, alcohol and tobacco.
■ Improved access to dental care for all ages.
■ Increased investment in early learning and healthy parenting skills.
Lead agencies have been assigned for each of the priority areas.
“A healthier community is something we all desire,” said Dr. Tom Locke, Clallam County public health officer, and OMC CEO Eric Lewis in a joint statement.
“With the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act approaching in 2014, the goal is receiving renewed attention,” they said.
“Hospitals and health care providers are being urged to shift from a focus on treating acute illness and injury to a health home model that emphasizes disease prevention and patient-centered care.”
