Community Health & Wellness Partners lauds success of its Wholesome Rx program, and the positive impact to the overall health of the community.
“The Wholesome Rx Program is a perfect example of how Community Health & Wellness Center aims to treat the whole personwhole-community,” said Tara Bair, president and CEO of Community Health & Wellness Partners.
Patients who enrolled in the program attended education classes on healthy eating and were provided “prescriptions” to redeem for fresh fruits and produce at local markets.
Preliminary results demonstrate the success of the program, as 50 percent of the patients who enrolled with uncontrolled A1C, an estimated average glucose level, were able to reach their A1C goals., according to a report issued by the healthcare provider.
Patients who enrolled and participated lost a cumulative 240 pounds, and many of them reported that their family members benefited indirectly from the program through a change in family eating habits.
In addition to the success of the Wholesome Rx Program, Community Health & Wellness Partners celebrated the following 2018 statistics — the last year for which complete statistics are available:
• 65 percent of patients enrolled in the Diabetes Education Program reduced their A1C levels;
• there was a 78 percent increase in the number of patients treated though the Medication Assisted Treatment program from 2016 to 2018;
• the health center’s Ohio State Insurance Assistance Program volunteer was able to save community members $173,426.50 as they were choosing their health plans during the insurance open enrollment period;
• there was a $4.46 million total medication cost savings to patients since inception using the 340b program — a drug pricing program;
• total patient visits have grown from 7,218 in 2014 to 28,842 in 2018;
• total full-time equivalents have increased from 15 in the first year to 54 in 2018;
• and total gross employee wages have increased from $715,000 in 2014 to $3,236,000 in2018.
The statistics were pulled from the Uniform Data System Report that the health center is required to file each year with the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Bair said moving into 2020, she looks forward to “breaking barriers again by fully implementing (an) integrated model of team-based care so that patients who come to us for their primary medical care can also have other services integrated into their overall health care plan.”
“Directed by their primary care provider, our patients are able to get all aspects of care at one visit, in one location and by one team including behavioral health, pharmacy, nutrition and other service providers.
As the health care industry moves toward this integrated model of care, we intend to be a leader in demonstrating the benefits of this approach.”