HJAR Sep/Oct 2019

44 SEP / OCT 2019 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS seen on an annual basis. This incentive, com- bined with a higher value of patient care, care coordination offerings, social determinant factor assistance, focused access and afford- ability of care, and improvement to clinical operations and management, presents a bet- ter environment for both the patient and the provider. This all contributes toward a longer, more fulfilling life for the patient. Now what? Rural public health profes- sionals, proven experts in assessment, devel- opment, and quality, are positioned to lead the way. The sense of community in rural areas of Arkansas is strong, and fosters col- laboration. Hospitals, primary care provid- ers, businesses, grassroots leaders, and local community anchors are now realizing the importance of working together to create community-wide change toward a healthier lifestyle. I’m challenging stakeholders: physicians, clinicians, businesses, caregivers, and pa- tients alike to push in a collaborative direc- tion. Even if you are not a medical provider, this public health challenge is yours too. En- courage your family and loved ones in ru- ral Arkansas to start a walking club, share healthy recipes, a healthy meal, and become each other’s accountability partners. These are simple recommendations, but together, COMMUNITY HEALTH encourage annual Medicare visits, research has indicated impoverished patients are less likely to be offered these visits. The failure to implement well visits negatively impacts the patient and the medical practice in the form of lost revenue. As healthcare providers, we must do more to emphasize well visits and treatment plans. ACall toAction: Arkansas healthcare orga- nizations must focus more on the aging rural populations. This call must communicate the benefits of living a healthier lifestyle, as well as offer basic direction for our senior com- munity members on tools and techniques to sustain and improve their overall health. This complex public health crisis requires a broad scope of solutions. Strategies to achieve community well-being must include social capital, community resilience, capacity, sustainability, and development. For change to happen, patients must be willing to follow the plan, and providers will- ing to support them through annual wellness visits, healthy lifestyle guidance, and avail- able local resources. But how? Medicare should offer medical providers greater financial incentives to em- phasize well visits. One option is to establish a greater financial pool for shared savings based upon the number of Medicare patients with the broad efforts of, say, Medicare’s wellness program, we can help improve the health outcomes of rural communities across our state, and even see the obesity rate in Arkansas improve. Who is ready to make a change and help create solutions? Healthcare leaders, let’s challenge each other to improve the health of each community throughout our 75 coun- ties. n LaShannon Spencer, chief executive officer of Com- munity Health Centers of Arkansas, the statewide as- sociation for 12 health centers, with some 130 sites across the state, is passionate about ensuring that everyArkansan has access to high quality healthcare. Spencer believes that providers showing cradle-to- grave empathy and cultural awareness toward their patients is the key to improving population health. Spencer has more than 20 years of experience in designing, implementing, and managing multiple patient outcomes; public policymaking; advocacy; patient-physician relations; patient safety; and qual- itymeasures.She holds M.S.degrees in public health administration and health services administration and a B.S. in mass communications. She has completed her UNLV doctoral coursework in public health, con- centrating on the social determinants of health. Her professional memberships include the Ameri- can College of Healthcare Executives,National Public HealthAssociation,NationalAssociation of Health Ser- vices Executives,and theArkansas HeartAssociation. “Hospitals, primary care providers, businesses, grassroots leaders, and local community anchors are now realizing the importance of working together to create community-wide change toward a healthier lifestyle.”