Summary of the Building Partnerships Critical Issue Session
Philadelphia: Regions I, II, III
October 5, 1998
Moderator:
Estelle Richman
Health Commissioner, Philadelphia Department of Public Health
- Opened session and introduced speakers.
Panelists:
Diane Luby
New Hampshire Department of Health
Turning Point Project, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Described the New Hampshire process for developing its statewide goals for 2010. The NH
Health System plan was created following a number of community council and regional
meetings, involving community participation.
- NH developed its Health Care Transition Fund to provide resources for community
development. Grants improve access to health care providers and provide a learning
laboratory for promising but untested ideas.
- Robert Wood Johnsons Turning Point Initiative helps strengthen the public health
infrastructure. It funded the creation of a steering committee and 3 local community
initiatives, with focused workgroups on public health infrastructure, prevention, and
public health assessments.
Laurie Robinson
US PHS, Region I
Described efforts in Maine to develop key partnerships on womens health.
- Several task forces were created and issued recommendations, including the need to
support an infrastructure for womens health and to focus attention of different
sectors across a womans lifespan.
- The task forces realized the need to focus attention on achievable goals in areas such
as adolescent health. There are not large amounts of money and resources devoted to these
issues, but the first lady of Maine is providing leadership.
- Using small pots of available funds, a profile of womens health status was
developed.
- Violence emerged as the #1 issue.
Ms. Robinson also described involving the religious community in Massachusetts.
- Because black women are not screened for breast cancer at the same rate as white women,
the state partnered with NCI and CDC to provide outreach using the faith communities to
inform their members about screening opportunities.
Estelle Richman
Commissioner, Philadelphia Department of Health
Gave the local Philadelphia perspective.
- Because of changes in health care, a crisis is emerging regarding the increase in
uninsured children.
- Philadelphia targeted the at-risk population for uninsured children and worked with HMOs
to create "Healthier Babies".
- There is a need for a universal forum for funding and collaborative public health
initiatives with HMOs.
Public Comment:
- There is a policy choice between using limited resources for health care coverage as
opposed to giving out public health grants. There are no incentives for using short term
funds for long term planning.
- There is a need for partnerships between HMOs and the private sector to integrate care
and engage the business community by moving away from categorical funding to preventive
services. Incentives must be conisdered.
- Consumer market forces should be unleashed onto the business sector for preventive
services.
- Keep partnerships going and engaged in the process.
- The process should be result oriented, focused on achieving real results.
- Some flexibility is needed in partnerships; new ones should be formed as the situation
arises.
- Health departments need to change and share resources (including information and data),
as well as leveraging funds to improve the capacity to link systems.
- Data must be made meaningful and available at the local community level.
- Communities should be involved in the planning process.
- Community data should be available on-line, and at a political level, e.g., councils and
wards.
Key Points
- Create partnerships by aligning incentives. There is a need to get the private sector
engaged in preventive clinical services, either by requiring it or by providing
incentives.
- Need to focus on achievable goals.
- Need for universal forums for funding. Shifting resources from categorical funds to
preventive services. Need for long term planning, with the available short-term funding.
- Engage the community by making the data available and meaningful to the community.
Provide data at political level, providing politicians the information necessary for
action.
Philadelphia Transcripts and Summaries