Focus Area: Access to Services

During the survey phase of the 2021 Community Health Assessment, it became clear to Healthy Klamath partners that access to care was a great concern for many people. Through discussion among document steering committee members, it was decided that the focus area would be Health Promotion: Access to Services. This allows the Network to help promote what is available related to local services, without attempting to influence areas which would take more financial infrastructure to secure. The Network is not able to hire new professionals and open more clinics; it can ensure that information is available and provided in ways that reflect cultural needs, equity considerations and sensitivity to health literacy levels.

 

Upcoming Webinars

 

Healthy Klamath Partners Share Resources

Cascade Health Alliance and Klamath & Lake Community Action Services will share about local resource guides.

Wednesday, July 26

5:30 – 6:30pm

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/jwg-ikdz-fgw

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 323-609-5867‬ PIN: ‪696 322 727‬#

County : Klamath

Primary Care

104 providers/ 100,000 population

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This indicator shows the primary care provider rate per 100,000 population. Primary care providers include practicing physicians specializing in general practice medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics.
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Primary Care Provider Rate
Data Source: County Health Rankings
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County : Klamath

Dental Health

88 dentists/ 100,000 population

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This indicator shows the rate of dentists per 100,000 population.
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Dentist Rate
Data Source: County Health Rankings
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County : Klamath

Mental Health

518 providers/ 100,000 population

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This indicator shows the mental health provider rate in providers per 100,000 population. 
Mental health providers include psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, counselors, and advanced practice nurses specializing in mental health care.
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Mental Health Provider Rate
Data Source: County Health Rankings
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Overarching Goal

Increase awareness and understanding of health services

 

Full Community Health Improvement Plan access to services focus area information

Click here to access the access to services pages of the 2022-25 Klamath County Community Health Improvement Plan.

Reports

Click here to access the report for Quarter 2.

Click here to access the Community Health Improvement Plan work plan.

Lead agency

Healthy Klamath.

Baseline

US News & World Report scored Klamath County 57 of a perfect 100 for hospital bed availability, people with no health insurance, and primary care doctor availability in a 2022 report. In the 2022 County Rankings & Roadmaps, 13% of Klamath County adults were uninsured, with 4% of children uninsured. In 2020, Klamath County was a health professional shortage area for primary care providers for low income clients, dental providers for low income/migrant farm worker/homeless clients, and mental health providers for the geographic region including Lake County.

Benchmarks

Reach 22,000 of Klamath County’s population with resource guides as measured by print distribution and digital traffic and aim to grow that number by 5% each year.

Increase awareness of existing services, benefits and eligibility by 5% as measured by community survey.

Cross promote 3 events or programs per year.

Increase awareness of health equity and literacy issues amongst the Healthy Klamath Network, providers and public by 10% as measured by community surveys.

Run a coordinated campaign to improve recruitment, retention, reputation and healthcare workforce development, the success of which is as measured by the tasks’ process measures.

 
 
Objectives

Objective 1

Reach 22,000 of Klamath County’s population with resource guides as measured by print distribution and digital traffic and aim to grow that number by 5% each year.

Objective 2

Increase awareness of existing services, benefits and eligibility by 5% as measured by community survey.

Objective 3

Cross promote 3 events or programs per year.

 

Objective 4

Increase awareness of health equity and literacy issues amongst the Healthy Klamath Network, providers and public by 10% as measured by community surveys.

Objective 5

Run a coordinated campaign to improve recruitment, retention, reputation and healthcare workforce development the success of which is as measured by the tasks’ process measures.

 
Assets & Resources

Local agencies, which include, but are not limited to Cascade Health Alliance, Healthy Klamath staff, Integral Youth Services, Kingsley 173rd Fighter Wing, Klamath Basin Behavioral Health, Klamath Basin Senior Citizens’ Center, Klamath County Public Health, Klamath County School District, Klamath Falls City Schools, Klamath Health Partnership, Klamath Tribal Health & Family Services, and Sky Lakes Medical Center.

 
State and National Efforts

Healthier Together Oregon: 2020–2024 State Health Improvement Plan

The plan states: “Modernizing the healthcare system includes adoption of emerging technology. This includes use of electronic medical record technology, centralized referral systems that address social needs and expansion of telehealth. Telehealth can be used to address barriers to healthcare, including transportation, provider capacity and access to specialty care. It has proven to be a critical tool in the response to COVID-19. Most healthcare providers use electronic health record systems; however, it is difficult for healthcare providers to share data with each other. Electronic health record reminders can also prompt providers to ask questions or order tests to prevent illness or diseases. Referral and information systems such as 211 exist to address social needs such as housing, food and childcare. However, a comprehensive referral system doesn’t exist. Once a referral is made, it’s also challenging to follow up to ensure the person received the service they needed.

  • “Expand use of telehealth, especially in rural areas and for behavioral health.

  • “Use electronic health records to promote delivery of preventive services.

  •  “Improve exchange of electronic health record information and data sharing among providers.

  • “Support statewide community information exchange to facilitate referrals between healthcare and social services.”

Healthy People 2030

The initiative provides the following goal and supporting text:

 

Goal: Improve Health Communication

Effective health communication is critical to health and well-being. Healthy People 2030 focuses on improving health communication so that people can easily understand and act on health information.

Health information and messages are often overly complex, making them hard to understand and use. Healthcare providers who communicate clearly and use methods like teach-back and shared decision-making can help people make informed health-related decisions. These strategies can help improve outcomes, especially for certain groups — like people who have limited health literacy skills or speak English as a second language.

Making electronic health information easy to understand and use is also key to improving health and well-being. And news organizations and health departments can promote health and safety through effective communication strategies — for example, by providing complete, actionable information and using social marketing.