The Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) provides authority for Indian Health Systems to be reimbursed by health plans, run programs and supply grants to tribes, with the mission of elevating the health of Indians to the highest possible level. It was made permanent with Obama's signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Read MoreLike many of you, we are concerned about the future of the Affordable Care Act. We have produced this one page fact sheet on the impacts of the ACA in the BHT region which includes facts we hope you'll share with your community and representatives, like how 1,300+ health care related jobs were added to the region in 2015 thanks to the ACA.
Read MoreBHT is launching and ambitious project to build a map of our health system, but we need your help.
Read MoreWe were saddened to hear that last night the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center, which has been supporting children and families in Spokane for 40 years, was victim of a hate crime when a racial slur was found spray painted on the side of their building this morning, right next to the playground.
Read MoreAfter opening to patients August 1, the new Spokane Teaching Health Clinic will celebrate the future of community health.
Read MoreWe are excited to announce that we are currently recruiting for four new board members with a strong interest in reducing health disparities.
Read MoreJoin us in welcoming Dr. Sanne Magnan, former President and CEO of the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement, for a lunchtime discussion and bright spotting round table!
Read MoreA huge shoutout to THEZONE on receiving a $85k grant from the Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund to help with two innovative projects to help with their efforts to revitalize Northeast Spokane!
Read MoreSMILE (Students Mastering Important Lifeskills Education) and New ESD 101 are hosting their annual conference "Early Prevention, Future Success" on October 26th at the Spokane Red Lion River Inn.
Read MoreIn 2010, 86% of total healthcare spending in the US was spent on individuals diagnosed with chronic medical issues. The most prominent among these diseases include cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and obesity. Of the various components of our health that we can control, nutrition is one of the most influential factors.
We are thrilled to see a rising trend in providers and payers partnering with programs to provide nutritional support in three forms; provision, incentive and education.
Provides a direct provision of food that is customized to the patient’s personal medical diagnosis through both home delivery and medically customized food banks. These programs primarily serve patients who have serious chronic disease diagnoses and attempt to both improve both quality of life and prevent additional hospital visits and or medical costs. These programs come in the form of non-profit companies, sustained primarily by donations, as well as companies contracted with health insurers.
Comprised of food purchasing incentives, in which particular foods with health benefits such as fruits and vegetables are either subsidized by the programs or incentivized. Patients may receive a food prescription from their primary care physician which functions as a kind of coupon at local vendors for fresh and healthy foods. Additionally, some insurance providers are partnering with grocery stores to provide discount cards on certain healthy foods.
Not knowing how to prepare healthy meals can be the biggest barrier to good nutrition. Education programs seek to teach individuals how to properly construct a diet that fits with their health needs. These programs are prevention focused, and tend to target audiences that are at risk for developing chronic illness. Lifestyle education focuses on healthy cooking, how to exercise effectively and how to understand the cause and effect of their lifestyle choices on their health.
“Food insecurity is linked to a 46 percent increased likelihood of becoming a ‘high cost user’ of healthcare” (source)
Utilization and implementation of nutrition intervention programs has the ability to drastically impact chronic illness rates, medical costs, insurance coverage and nutrition accessibility.
Here in Eastern Washington, where 1 in 3 children is overweight or obese, and rates of Diabetes are climbing, innovating new programs to help people access and prepare healthy food will be essential to preventing health crisis. In our prevention work, we collaborate with local partners to innovate ideas like those above, and increase food access and food literacy to meet our region's health needs upstream.
To read more, visit: http://www.chlpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Food-is-Prevention-Report-July-2015.pdf
The Spokane Regional Health District in partnership with the WA Department of Health is pleased to announce that registration is open for the July 13, 2016 Community Health Worker (CHW) Training at the NEW Health Conference Center in Chewelah, WA
This FREE training lasts eight weeks and is delivered through a blend of in-person and online components. The two in-person training dates are July 13, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m. and August 30, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. both in-person training days.
Participants will gain valuable skills to connect community members with health and social services. They also gain access to additional specialized trainings, access to a regional network and CHW exclusive local website.
To register please go to: http://www.doh.wa.gov/CHWTS.
We are saddened by news this morning of the passing of James L. Boyd, Tribal Chairman of the Colville Tribes. As well as a dedicated and fondly remembered leader among the Colville Indian Reservation, Boyd was a talented songwriter who won numerous awards for his music. He will be missed by many, and our hearts go out to his family and tribe in this time of mourning.
You may view the press release from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation here.
The Family First Prevention Services Act will strengthen families and reduce inappropriate foster care placements.
Read MoreWhen it comes to health, not all zip codes are created equal.
Read More"Fifth, allow these events change you. They have the potential to make you a better, wiser, more compassionate, more patient and more reflective person. Maybe even someone who can make a difference on behalf of others. Trust me on this one. Been there. Done this."
Read MoreBHT is happy to celebrate School Nurses day by spreading some good news coming from Newport.
Read MoreAt CHAS health clinics in Spokane, more than 50% of patients reported using tobacco, meaning half of their patients were at risk for tobacco-related death or illness. So CHAS launched their two-year cessation program Quit Happens.
Read MoreWashington State Health Care Authority releases request for information on Pay For Success programs for Community Engagement in Supportive Housing Interventions.
Read MoreSpokane County receives $1.75 million from MacArthur Foundation to reduce overcrowded jail population.
Read More
