The Effectiveness of Our Centers: The Contribution and Collaborations with the Counties We Serve
Health Services, Inc. (HSI) has a long history of developing linkages with both public and private entities. During its early years HSI insisted on representation on the board from local government and the county medical society. Today HSI is one of fifty plus agencies comprising the Montgomery River Region United Way Agency. Agency directors meet regularly to discuss area needs and solutions. HSI is a Partner in Education with Houston Hill Junior High School. HSI maintains linkages with health professions education programs in support of clinical rotations for physicians, dentists, nurses, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, dental assistants, and medical record clerks. In addition, HSI has maintained long-term linkage with the state county health departments as well as local hospitals. An arrangement with the Montgomery County Health Department, Montgomery Mental Health Authority and Baptist and Jackson Hospitals three years ago formed the Montgomery Area Wellness Coalition (MAWC). The MAWC applied for and received a HRSA CAP grant to assist with building a system of care for the uninsured and underinsured in Montgomery and surrounding areas.
The services, as stated earlier, are culturally appropriate for each center. Linguistics is not a major barrier at this time. Interpreters for Spanish-speaking clients can be made available at the time of the visit. Health Services Inc. provides an array of services designed to meet the comprehensive primary care needs of the area residents. In carrying out clients and family education, the centers' staff is careful to express the information and responsibilities involved in care and rehabilitation in terms which are appropriate to the client and/or caregiver's capacity to understand and execute. All teaching is interactive and value-sensitive. The management team and board from time to time determine those services that need to be added, contracted or deleted.
HSI's commitment to disease prevention and health promotion was realized in the recent opening (July 2003) of Crossroads Lifestyle and & Wellness Center. Crossroads offers programs that create awareness of the impact lifestyle have on health, wellbeing, and ultimately health disparities. Fitness and exercise equipment combined with wellness seminars are designed to give users the tools to make needed lifestyle changes to improve their health status.
The general approach to meeting the needs of the target population involves completing a needs assessment as to what the real and perceived needs are. The needs assessment not only identifies the need for basic primary care but also documents diabetes as a health disparity. Therefore HSI will provide basic primary care with a focus on diabetes treatment and education.
