TACHC and Unite Us work together to advance health equity
The pandemic has highlighted health care inequalities that have existed for decades, including those who are underserved. low income, elderly, disabled, veterans, homeless, uninsured, lEnsure access to essential resources such as nutrition, housing assistance and transportation.
Two organizations trying to solve this problem, the Texas Association of Community Health Centers (TACHC), are associations committed to promoting equitable access to quality healthcare. texasand Unite Us, a technology company that connects healthcare and social care, have decided to partner and announced earlier this week that TACHC will join the Unite Texas network.
Together, the two entities will expand a coordinated care network that addresses unmet social needs and improves the health of people in Texas.
“This partnership between TACHC and Unite Us has the potential to significantly impact patient lives. SDoH, or non-medical factors in health, can drive 80% of health outcomes. Unite Us Community Engagement Managers located in communities will help Texas health centers better locate and utilize social resources within their communities.” Jana Eubankexecutive director of TACHC, told VatorNews.
Additionally, a closed-loop referral process within the platform allows health centers and care managers to track patient care across community service efforts. “
whatHis instrument is that when TACHC refers patients to social need services such as housing, transportation, or those that address food insecurity, the center asks what services the patient has used and trends in visits. To receive information, she explained. and other needs identified.
“We first heard about TACHC because of the amazing work they are already doing in Texas. “Like Unite Texas, they are mission-driven and together we share a vision of advancing health equity for the people of Texas.” Brandon WhiteState Network Director for Unite Us.
“Our overall goal is to provide equitable access to care as efficiently and effectively as possible for all residents, regardless of where they live in the state, and this partnership Through , you can do just that.”
Founded in 1983, TACHC is Texas’s federally designated primary care association that promotes equitable access to quality health care in Texas by supporting and advocating for federally accredited health centers (FQHCs). A private, non-profit membership organization committed to advancing access. . Members operate in urban, rural, and remote Texas with a mission to promote access to health care for all Texans.
“Texas has the highest percentage and number of people without health insurance in the United States,” Eubank explained.
“In the health care community, we often talk about ‘access to care,’ which either enhances or hinders the availability and affordability of health care, especially for low-income individuals, the elderly, the disabled, and veterans. For FQHCs, increasing access to care means making them physically, financially, linguistically and culturally accessible. means to
Founded in 2013, Unite Us is a technology company building a coordinated care network of health and human service providers to address all determinants of health.
The company’s coordinated care network is built in partnership with community stakeholders, and community engagement professionals representing the communities it serves are locally employed and skilled in collective impact. doing.
“This local social care network uses nuanced data and unique community context to understand barriers and leverage facilitators to drive positive change in communities,” says White.
“Unite Us is uniquely positioned to address health equity. Our solutions bring together partners in government, healthcare and community-based organizations to identify and enhance local community needs and access resources. We will build a comprehensive infrastructure that increases access and improves health for all communities.”
The Unite Texas Network of partners are connected through the Unite Us technology platform. This technology platform enables the sending and receiving of closed-loop electronic referrals, connecting people to resources and services such as housing, food, transportation and employment assistance.
By partnering with Unite Us, TACHC will be able to better understand patient needs across the state, identify gaps and inequities, and inform policy decisions, Eubanks said.
“The Unite Us platform’s unique social needs screening assessment, closed-loop referral process, and robust community network allow health centers to spend more time on patient care, better utilize internal resources, and maximize patient care. results in their patient population,” she explained.
“Additionally, Unite Us’ data dashboards, including the Health Equity dashboard, will help us better understand the overall social needs of our more than 1.6 million patients across the state, the gaps in outcomes and needs, and the extent of our communities. It becomes an interest group.”
Regarding Unite Us, White said: Our partnership with TACHC “facilitates faster, more streamlined connectivity to care and actionable outcomes data rooted in communities and social infrastructure.”
“Their member community health centers promote health equity across much of the state and allow us to impact many communities. It’s our collective goal to connect them to the critical resources and services that help them do their jobs and TACHC,” he said.
