Research & Policy Briefs Health & Human Services

Community Health & Wellness Survey – Del Norte & Tribal Lands

The Community Health and Wellness Survey was conducted by the California Center for Rural Policy in 2013.
The purpose of the survey was to assess community health indicators in the Del Norte and Tribal lands
region.

The eight page written survey contained questions about wellness indicators pertaining to economics, education, healthcare, neighborhood built environment and community cohesion.

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Assessment of Research Needs in Rural California

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Strategic Work Plan for Education Needs, Health Information Technology, Recruitment and Retention for the Diversified Healthcare Industry Cluster

Strategic Work Plan for Education Needs, Health Information Technology, Recruitment and Retention for the Diversified Healthcare Industry Cluster

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Del Norte County Health Care Provider Recruiting & Retention Plan

CCRP was granted a contract with Del Norte County to develop a healthcare provider recruitment and retention plan. The plan includes demographics of Del Norte County with GIS maps, results of community input through surveys and meetings, a summary of best practices from other rural areas, as well as an assessment of the economic impact of the health care system on the County.

To create the plan, CCRP worked with Research Associates, Martin Love (CEO of the Humboldt-Del Norte IPA, Foundation for Medical Care) and Erick Eschker, PhD (Associate Professor and Chair, Dept of Economics, HSU and Director, Index of Economic Activity for Humboldt County).

Reports:

A Clearer View: Humboldt Steps Out of the Fog of Medical Variation

Following a 2011 California Health Care Foundation study of geographic medical variation in California, leaders in Humboldt County came together to examine the causes of variation in their region.

Read All Over the Map: Medical Procedure Rates in California Vary Widely

North Coast Health Information Network – Taking Humboldt’s Health Into the 21st Century

Humboldt County is on the forefront of the medical technology trend that is transpiring across the nation. Not only have larger practices in the county begun to adopt electronic medical records (EMRs), but Humboldt is one of the few counties in the state to have an operational health information exchange (HIE). Called the North Coast Health Information Network (NCHIN), this HIE is an electronic hub that helps transfer patient information between their medical providers. NCHIN is in its beginning stages and has already made steps towards achieving a more efficient medical system. This Policy Conversation will explore the privacy framework related to electronic record keeping, explain the context for EMRs and provide an update on how NCHIN is helping Humboldt County.

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It Takes a Village… to Prevent a Fall

All of rural California, and particularly the Redwood Coast Region (Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity counties), has an increasing population of older residents who are at risk of preventable falls. In fact, the Redwood Coast Region has recorded a higher percentage of falls among seniors than California as a whole. Fall prevention means that the home must be safe, but also that the community environment must be navigable so people are encouraged to venture outside and be active.

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What Are The Accommodations In A “Medical Home?”

There has been much debate nationally about what should constitute a “medical home,” the notion that a central person should be designated to provide preventive care and coordinate with others about a patient’s needs. The California Center for Rural Policy embraces the widest possible definition of medical home. This is particularly critical in rural areas such as the Redwood Coast Region of California, where people are on average older, poorer, have higher rates of chronic disease—and are more likely to be medically uninsured.

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The Complex Chronically Ill: Addressing the Needs of Frequent Patients and Inappropriate Emergency Room Use

Over the past few years, Redwood Coast hospital and health and human services workers have observed an influx of hospital patients, between the age of 45-60, with complex chronic illnesses who are frequently utilizing the emergency room (ER) and pose significant discharge challenges.

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Early Lessons From Four ‘Aligning Forces For Quality’ Communities Bolster The Case For Patient-Centered Care

By Deborah Roseman, Jessica Osborne-Stafsnes, Christine Helwig Amy, Summer Boslaugh, and Kellie Slate-Miller
HEALTH AFFAIRS 32, NO. 2 (2013)

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