HJAR Jul/Aug 2019

52 JUL / AUG 2019 I  Healthcare Journal of ARKANSAS dialogue column Community Health Time is precious. Clinicians are overbur- dened with administrative tasks, while some- times faced with the need to increase daily appointments just to make a decent living. Still, medical providers must do more to help patients function as true partners in their wellness. That means making time to show patients what partnership means by encouraging their questions and sharing in- formation that empowers patients to increase their lifespan. Patients must do their part. Health status won’t improve unless 1) they actively work to better understand the what, when, why, and how of a provider’s treatment plan, and 2) are motivated to change behaviors and health patterns that prolong illness and shorten life-span. Most of what positively impacts people’s health should occur before their appointment. The 12 Community Health Centers (CHCs) in Arkansas, including some 130 clinics across the state, are founded on the ideal of “meeting patients where they are.” Given the wide-range of people we serve—those of all races, creeds, incomes, and high-need locales—that ideal has been our key toward optimizing patient engagement. CHCs are community-based and pa- tient-directed organizations that serve pop- ulations with limited access to health care. CHCs must meet the following requirements of the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): • Located in or serve a high-need commu- nity (designated Medically Underserved Area or Population). • Governed by a community board com- posed of a majority (51 percent or more) of health center patients. • Provide comprehensive primary health- care services, as well as enabling support services (education, translation, and trans- portation, etc.). Improving the Health of Communities Through Patient Engagement Our relationship with medical providers begins at birth. From day one, patient and provider begin a journey of peaks, valleys, and unexpected twists and turns. Along the way, the patient should see himself or herself as the person in charge.