a fresh perspective on population health
As vital as high-quality medical care is to the health of any population, it is not enough. Conditions in the places where people live, learn, work and play can be far more influential. And these social determinants of health vary considerably from place to place. Harris Health is leading the way in Harris County by investing in resources and partnerships to better understand and address these health-related social challenges. We’re using what we’ve learned to design and implement a transformative model of care that does more to improve our patients’ total health and, as a happy result, provides more cost-effective care all around.
As vital as high-quality medical care is to the health of any population, it is not enough. Conditions in the places where people live, learn, work and play can be far more influential. And these social determinants of health vary considerably from place to place. Harris Health is leading the way in Harris County by investing in resources and partnerships to better understand and address these health-related social challenges. We’re using what we’ve learned to design and implement a transformative model of care that does more to improve our patients’ total health and, as a happy result, provides more cost-effective care all around.
what affects our population’s health?
Harris Health has interviewed hundreds of patients to assess the barriers that make it particularly difficult for so many of them to live a healthy life. We can’t be all things to all people, nor do we need to be. What we can do is refine our focus. We can begin to cultivate a more holistic, nurturing relationship with our patients. And we can work harder to build powerful partnerships with existing nonprofits and area organizations who are ready and able to provide meaningful solutions and support.
what affects our population’s health?
Harris Health has interviewed hundreds of patients to assess the barriers that make it particularly difficult for so many of them to live a healthy life. We can’t be all things to all people, nor do we need to be. What we can do is refine our focus. We can begin to cultivate a more holistic, nurturing relationship with our patients. And we can work harder to build powerful partnerships with existing nonprofits and area organizations who are ready and able to provide meaningful solutions and support.
our path forward: community health hubs
Harris Health has embarked on a three-part strategy to improve our population’s health. We’re working to evolve our system of hospitals and outpatient health centers into more integrated health hubs where we will not only offer comprehensive clinical services but also share access to partner resources onsite and through well-established community referrals, all based on the most profound needs in each community. Our initial focus in 2019-20 will be on three familiar themes across our population: food insecurity, lack of transportation and limited health literacy, all of which negatively impact our patients’ health.
We gratefully acknowledge the collaborative spirit and committed support of valuable community partners, including the UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston Food Bank, City of Houston, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Texas Medical Center, who are enthusiastically joining us on this ambitious journey.
our path forward: community health hubs
Harris Health has embarked on a three-part strategy to improve our population’s health. We’re working to evolve our system of hospitals and outpatient health centers into more integrated health hubs where we will not only offer comprehensive clinical services but also share access to partner resources onsite and through well-established community referrals, all based on the most profound needs in each community. Our initial focus in 2019-20 will be on three familiar themes across our population: food insecurity, lack of transportation and limited health literacy, all of which negatively impact our patients’ health.
We gratefully acknowledge the collaborative spirit and committed support of valuable community partners, including the UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston Food Bank, City of Houston, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Texas Medical Center, who are enthusiastically joining us on this ambitious journey.
meet Karen Tseng,
leading our population health movement
play video
A health hub is a location, unique to the community it serves, and a philosophy that a coordinated approach enhances accessibility, drives proactive care and ultimately improves outcomes and lowers costs.
Karen Tseng
Senior Vice President, Population Health Transformation
Harris Health System
meet Karen Tseng,
leading our population health movement
meet Karen Tseng,
leading our population health movement
A health hub is a location, unique to the community it serves, and a philosophy that a coordinated approach enhances accessibility, drives proactive care and ultimately improves outcomes and lowers costs.
Karen Tseng
Senior Vice President, Population Health Transformation
Harris Health System
play video
on fertile ground: Community Health Hub at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital
LBJ Hospital is the perfect place to begin. It’s located in an area of northeast Houston officially defined as a food desert with little access to affordable, nutritious food, and where most residents live below the poverty line. With the help of dedicated staff and area volunteers, a certified farmer and local partners, we built our first community farm to provide patients and local residents with fresh fruits and vegetables. More important, we teach them how they can prepare and shop for their own nutritious foods.
read more
on fertile ground: Community Health Hub at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital
LBJ Hospital is the perfect place to begin. It’s located in an area of northeast Houston officially defined as a food desert with little access to affordable, nutritious food, and where most residents live below the poverty line. With the help of dedicated staff and area volunteers, a certified farmer and local partners, we built our first community farm to provide patients and local residents with fresh fruits and vegetables. More important, we teach them how they can prepare and shop for their own nutritious foods.
read more
meet Rebecca Verm,
leading a farm-to-fork revolution
play video
Clean, nutritious food is not for any one group.
We all deserve access to nourishing produce.
Rebecca Verm
Certified farmer
Community Farm at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital
meet Rebecca Verm,
leading a farm-to-fork revolution
Clean, nutritious food is not for any one group.
We all deserve access to nourishing produce.
Rebecca Verm
Certified farmer
Community Farm at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital
play video
our recipe for health: a food Rx program
Food insecurity is particularly health threatening for those with chronic conditions. Many Harris Health patients must choose between medication for themselves or food for their families in a no-win scenario that frustrates care providers and patients alike. To address this critical need, Harris Health is excited to be partnering with Houston Food Bank’s Food for Change Program to open an onsite Food Farmacy at Strawberry Health Center, the first of its kind in Texas.
Any patient who qualifies as food insecure is eligible for a prescription for at least one trip to the Food Farmacy. But doctors here are focusing on eligible diabetes patients with elevated hemoglobin and A1c levels for long-term participation. They receive a six-month prescription for the Food Farmacy, where they can receive fresh fruits, veggies and other food items, along with education, nutritional guidance and personal assistance qualifying for other social services.
read more
our recipe for health:
a food Rx program
Food insecurity is particularly health threatening for those with chronic conditions. Many Harris Health patients must choose between medication for themselves or food for their families in a no-win scenario that frustrates care providers and patients alike. To address this critical need, Harris Health is excited to be partnering with Houston Food Bank’s Food for Change Program to open an onsite Food Farmacy at Strawberry Health Center, the first of its kind in Texas.
Any patient who qualifies as food insecure is eligible for a prescription for at least one trip to the Food Farmacy. But doctors here are focusing on eligible diabetes patients with elevated hemoglobin and A1c levels for long-term participation. They receive a six-month prescription for the Food Farmacy, where they can receive fresh fruits, veggies and other food items, along with education, nutritional guidance and personal assistance qualifying for other social services.
read more
our recipe for health:
a food Rx program
Food insecurity is particularly health threatening for those with chronic conditions. Many Harris Health patients must choose between medication for themselves or food for their families in a no-win scenario that frustrates care providers and patients alike. To address this critical need, Harris Health is excited to be partnering with Houston Food Bank’s Food for Change Program to open an onsite Food Farmacy at Strawberry Health Center, the first of its kind in Texas.
Any patient who qualifies as food insecure is eligible for a prescription for at least one trip to the Food Farmacy. But doctors here are focusing on eligible diabetes patients with elevated hemoglobin and A1c levels for long-term participation. They receive a six-month prescription for the Food Farmacy, where they can receive fresh fruits, veggies and other food items, along with education, nutritional guidance and personal assistance qualifying for other social services.
read more
meet Hope Galvan,
leading the food Rx campaign
meet Hope Galvan,
leading the food Rx campaign
play video
We had a vision. But it was the alignment of the stars, it was timing and it was everybody—everybody—coming together that made it happen.
Hope Galvan, MS, RN, CVRN-BC, CDE
Administrative Director, Clinical Integration, Population Health Transformation
Harris Health System
We had a vision. But it was the alignment of the stars, it was timing and it was everybody—everybody—coming together that made it happen.
Hope Galvan, MS, RN, CVRN-BC, CDE
Administrative Director, Clinical Integration, Population Health Transformation Harris Health System
play video
