Mercy Hospital Kingfisher – Healthier Together in Kingfisher County

What is it?

The Healthier Together project aims at diminishing the state’s population health gaps, one county at a time in Oklahoma. The project has been funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to facilitate the translation of patient-centered outcomes research and clinical evidence into practice in rural Oklahoma. The leadership of the project includes a trans-disciplinary team of scientists, health care professionals, patient outreach specialists, technology experts, community and public health professionals, representatives of many health care entities and several civic organizations in the county.

The goal of Healthier Together in Kingfisher County is to design and implement a sustainable, county-based preventive services delivery model that aligns incentives for primary care practices, the county health department and hospitals. Implementation is accomplished with the availability of a wellness coordinator, who makes contact with patients to help establish preventive services.

Who is it for?

Residents of Kingfisher County who are seen in primary care and are due for preventive services.

Why do they do it?

The population of the county shows diverse ethnic and socioeconomic characteristics, including Latino/Hispanic communities, individuals with a Native-American heritage, and those of German/European descent. The county is overwhelmingly rural with limited health care and infrastructural resources. The project was created to help individuals improve their health and well-being by taking advantage of preventive services offered by primary care practices in the county, some of which are affiliated with the hospital. By providing preventive services before individuals develop illness, the objective is to have them live healthier lives and become more productive members of the community. Population statistics indicate that Kingfisher County is the healthiest county in Oklahoma, but Oklahoma, as a state, ranks close to the bottom of the list on most health indicators in the United States.

Impact

The project tracks preventive services recommended and received, and reasons for not providing/receiving services using the PSRS registry. The practice facilitator also tracks mammography, colonoscopy, and bone density testing through periodic medical record reviews in order to capture referral-based services. In addition, the project calculates the increase in average estimated individual and population life expectancies. Estimated life expectancies for each individual will be obtained and tracked in the PSRS registry, applying an innovative risk prediction algorithm.

The project also measures project start-up costs, maintenance costs, and other grant-related costs that would not be incurred by counties outside of this project. They will conduct ROI analyses to provide estimates for and evidence of the program’s financial sustainability. The project will prepare a Guidebook that can be used by other rural counties wishing to implement similar models. During the last 6 months of the project, the project team will develop a how-to guide that will detail the steps required to establish the model, the results that can be expected and the challenges that need to be anticipated.

Contact: Racheal Russell
Wellness Coordinator
Telephone: 405-375-7945
Email: racheal.russell@mercy.net