Patterson Health Center selected to participate in a Mobile Integrated Healthcare program

By Patterson Health Center on November 18, 2024

Patterson Health Center is pleased to announce its participation in a groundbreaking pilot project to demonstrate the effectiveness of mobile integrated healthcare (MIH) in rural communities across Kansas and Missouri. The Patterson Family Foundation has awarded funding to the Missouri EMS Association, which will oversee the grant and provide technical support and training throughout the initiative.

This innovative program aims to enhance healthcare delivery by utilizing patient-centered, mobile resources in out-of-hospital environments, specifically designed to meet the needs of underserved populations in rural areas.

"Social determinants of health don’t go away on their own," said Crissa Foley, Director of the Patterson Health Center Emergency Department. "What happens outside the hospital, ER, or clinic walls has a direct and lasting impact on a patient’s health. By treating the whole person and providing care in the home, we’re not only improving health outcomes but also increasing satisfaction for both patients and their families."

Through the MIH program, healthcare will be made more accessible to individuals in non-traditional settings where access has traditionally been a barrier, such as rural communities, correctional facilities, schools, and nursing homes. This approach allows for patient care to be delivered in cost-effective settings, such as patients' homes or crisis stabilization centers, thus providing timely preventive and primary care and reducing the need for high-cost emergency services.

"People feel more engaged in their care when they’re supported in their own environment, and we’re meeting them where they are—physically, emotionally, and socially," Foley said. "Central to this effort are community health workers, who play a vital role in bridging the gap between patients and providers, ensuring that individuals receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Their support is essential in improving outcomes and strengthening community health."

Networks who have been chosen to participate in this program are in both Kansas and Missouri and will include primary care providers, community paramedics, community health workers, and additional partners. Collaborative MIH teams will deliver quality and accessible care, address social determinants of health, and work towards reducing costs within the healthcare system.
MIH programs focus on providing in-home, non-emergency care to high-risk patients through specially trained clinicians. These professionals will assess and treat patients at home, aiming to prevent unnecessary emergency department visits and avoid readmissions post-discharge. They will coordinate with an integrative care team to ensure patients are connected with community resources and have access to telehealth services.

This network will leverage grant funding to identify key areas of focus, engage collaborating partners, establish clinical metrics for evaluation, and participate in training and technical assistance opportunities.

“Our MIH team is dedicated to providing excellent, accessible care, addressing critical social determinants of health, and ultimately reducing costs for our healthcare system," Sarah Teaff, Patterson Health Center CEO, said.

This grant application was made possible through the Missouri EMS Association with support from the Patterson Family Foundation. The Missouri EMS Association will work closely with the Kansas EMS Association, Mid-America Regional Council, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, Community Asset Builders, and other experts to implement, evaluate, and sustain these essential MIH efforts.