How CHRISTUS Health is Transforming Health Equity with “Communities of Focus”
At CHRISTUS Health, addressing health equity is not just a goal—it’s a fundamental strategy embedded in their approach to both clinical and community health programs. The organization’s Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is a pivotal tool, not just for compliance but for driving meaningful change across their extensive network of hospitals in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico.
Elevating CHNA for Health Equity
CHRISTUS Health’s CHNA serves as the bedrock for their health equity initiatives. Instead of being a static report, it’s dynamically integrated into multiple departments to address health equity regulatory requirements. By leveraging robust data collection and analysis, CHRISTUS Health ensures that their CHNA is a living document that drives real-world impact.
Creating “Communities of Focus”
To overcome past challenges in aligning their extensive health system, CHRISTUS Health embarked on a transformative journey. They developed a framework based on their latest CHNA findings, which led to the identification of “Communities of Focus.” Here’s how they did it:
Stratification of Emergency Department Use: The Community Health team began by analyzing emergency department usage data, stratifying it by race, ethnicity, and payer mix (Medicare, Medicaid, and uninsured). This detailed analysis provided insights into how different community groups accessed emergency services.
Incorporation of Diagnosis Codes: Next, they incorporated diagnosis codes to identify preventable hospital admissions for conditions such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes. This data was aggregated and de-identified at the zip code level and added to Metopio, enhancing the depth and relevance of the analysis.
Integration Across Departments: With “Communities of Focus” defined, CHRISTUS Health applied this framework across various strategies within the health system. The Community Health team now collaborates closely with Quality and Safety, Nursing, Clinical Analytics, and Population Health departments. Metrics such as addressing food insecurity and reducing heart disease-related ED visits are integral to the system’s strategic plan.
What’s Next for CHRISTUS Health?
Looking ahead, CHRISTUS Health is working on advancing their information technology infrastructure. The focus is on developing consistent stratification of patient data, integrating quality data, defining process measures, and including patient satisfaction and performance indicators. These efforts aim to build a more comprehensive understanding of community needs through the Community Needs Index.