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Oregon Community Health Access Collaboratives

Member Profile

Central Oregon Health Collaborative (COHC)

Key Contacts:
Mike Bonetto (541) 330-4963 mbonetto@coihs.com
Christine Winters (541) 585-9005 christinew@vim-cascades.org
Dan Peddycord (541) 322-7426 danp@deschutes.org

c/o Clear Choice Health Plans
2650 NE Courtney Drive
Bend, Oregon 97701

Sponsors/Collaborative Members:

Counties Served:

Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook

Collaborative Incorporated:

Applied for 501(C)3 status in January 2007.

Overview and Structure:

Central Oregon Health Collaborative (COHC) began as a concept two years ago and has since evolved into a steering committee of 20 with a set of focus areas and strategic initiatives. Over the past two years the COHC has developed a white paper and mission and principles, recruited a diverse steering committee, undertaken an environmental assessment and identified two primary focus areas with related strategic initiatives. COHC officially launched the collaborative’s efforts with community members with an informational town hall meeting on January 11, 2007, in Bend Oregon.

Mission:

To develop and implement strategies that improve health through active engagement of the Central Oregon community.

What services does the collaborative offer – Identify the Critical Activities being undertaken:

There was unanimous agreement among the COCH steering committee that all initiatives should work toward a coordinated system redesign and integration. At this time, the COHC has identified two priority areas with related strategic initiatives:

1) Access to affordable services/coverage

• Creation of a coverage product for uninsured (modeled in part after Muskegon’s three-share program)
• Development of a medical home pilot model (redesigning access to care delivery model)

2) Prevention and Wellness

• Community Development that promotes health (water fluoridation, bike paths, farmers markets, food in schools, NW crossing/Mill area)
• Employer Outreach and Education (Employer as purchaser and smart consumer; incentivizers of health; education; engage employers for future strategies/initiatives)

How is/has sustainability being/been achieved?

COHC recognizes the importance of engaging the right players and establishing a track-record of early wins. COHC is still in its planning and early implementation stage. COHC is seeking funding which will allow it to hire a coordinator for the collaborative. This is an important next step toward achieving sustainability.

What goal or objective has your collaborative targeted?

The primary goal of the COHC is the improvement of health. The COCH is mission-centered and strategies undertaken must tie back to its mission

What measure of performance has your collaborative achieved that impacts the target population?

Too early in the process to track/measure performance.

How has you’re your outcome prevented/reduced other problems or demonstrate cost savings?

Too early in the process to track/measure cost-savings.

Has your collaborative enhanced revenue?

Too early in the process to quantify enhanced revenue.

What is the collaborative’s annual budget by revenue (please include in-kind funding in your numbers)

The COHC has received $20,000 in grant funds and has pursued additional resources in order to hire a coordinator. The COHC has survived without funding for the majority of the past two years and has relied on in-kind donations of time and materials. The amount of in-kind donations has not yet been quantified.

Lessons Learned:

• Of key importance is the ability to maintain the collaborative momentum. It is important to just keep moving forward in order to keep people engaged.
• Keep messages and discussion simplified/accessible for the lay-person.
• Look to get funding earlier in the process
• Link to other health care stakeholders and activities, sooner rather than later.
• COHC has been successful in their process of steering committee member recruitment and inclusion. At this point would like to get more physician participation.
• Support from the state has been hugely important.
• Don’t underestimate the amount of time things take.

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