Focusing on Children's Health Community Approaches to Addressing Health Disparities: Workshop Summary (2009) / Chapter Skim
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6 Do Businesses Have a Role Improving Communities or Improving Children's Lives?
6 Do Businesses Have a Role Improving Communities or Improving Children's Lives?
Pages 55-68
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From page 55... ...
She described how WellPoint works to foster better health not only for the community composed of their plan members, but also for the community at large, and how they developed member and state health indices to track the success of health initiatives. Michele Courton Brown, senior vice president of charitable management services with Bank of America, also discussed a company's role in improving health in two different communities, the internal community that is the employees and the external communities where the employees live and where the company does business.
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From page 56... ...
The State Health Index provides a comprehensive look at the health of the population in the areas of maternity and prenatal care, preventive care, lifestyle, and morbidity and mortality. The State Health Index includes the entire population for that state, not just the members of a WellPoint health plan.
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From page 57... ...
• Patient Safety Outcome Index (LeapFrog safety measures) • Annual monitoring of patients on persistent medications NOTE: AHRQ, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; CAD, coronary artery disease; ED, emergency department; HMC, WellPoint Health Management Corporation.
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From page 58... ...
With 1 being the best and 51 being the worst, Georgia ranks • 33rd in the country for low birth weight, • 26th for prenatal care in the first trimester, • 46th for meeting recommended levels of physical activity, • 34th for cigarette smoking rate, • 44th for adult influenza immunization rate, • 39th for adult pneumococcal immunization rate, • 41st for diabetes in the adult population, and • 39th for heart disease death rate. Clearly, these areas require improvement, and WellPoint initiatives are focused on • ncreasing the percentage of mothers in the state who engage in i prenatal care during the first trimester of their pregnancy; • he percentage of adults age 65 and over who receive influenza and t pneumococcal vaccines; • he percentage of the population meeting the CDC recommenda t tion of at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity 5 or more days a week, or at least 20 minutes of vigorous activity 3 or more days per week; and • ecreasing the percentage of newborns who weigh less than 5.5 d pounds, the percentage of adults in the state who smoke cigarettes, the prevalence of adult diabetes, and the death rate from coronary artery disease.
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From page 59... ...
• overnor's Council on Physical Fitness "Live Like a Champion" program: G City-to-city tour teaching elementary school children importance of eating healthy and outdoor physical activity • Fit4Colorado" and "America on the Move": Promotion of healthful eating " and active living • MCA family fitness and "Granite State Fit Kids": Statewide teaching New Y Hampshire 5th graders about healthy eating and activity habits • dopt-a-School with New York Road Runners Foundation "Mighty Milers" A program: Promotes physical activity in school-age children in the five boroughs of New York City • hio Association of Free Health Clinics: Supports "Free to Be Healthy" O project addressing obesity and related health problems Another reason why these particular focus areas were selected, White said, was because of the rising costs associated with obesity, tobacco, sedentary lifestyle, and stress. Between 1987 and 2002, there was a 62 percent increase in private health insurance costs due to population risk factors and treatment of these particular conditions.
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From page 60... ...
WellPoint's social responsibility giving totaled $4.8 million with 76 percent supporting state health measures, healthy lifestyles, and major diseases. Blue Cross/Blue Shield gave $320,000, with 86 percent supporting these three areas.
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From page 61... ...
For example, using the ZIP code map laid out across the counties of Georgia, WellPoint identified areas where the mammography screening rates are lowest (Figure 6-1)
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From page 62... ...
This brought value to our employee population, Courton Brown said, helping our employees navigate the sometimes complex world of supporting children who have learning style differences. Traditional Community Outreach One of the primary attributes of a large company is the ability to provide financial resources, through grants or other programs, to help address social issues.
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From page 63... ...
Other key corporate stakeholders include employees and the community, as well as good stewardship of the environment, human rights, and diversity. In the last 15 years, Courton Brown said, there has been a movement from simple corporate philanthropy to a focus on being a responsible corporate citizen.
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From page 64... ...
Tooth decay is a disease, and poor dental health affects children's performance in school. Watch Your Mouth helps educate families about the need for proper oral care and provides community resources to assist in obtaining preventive services, such as sealants.
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From page 65... ...
The inaugural ING Georgia marathon was held in March 2007, and ING launched a pilot program with the Atlanta Public School System, starting with four schools and now including close to 20 schools. In San Francisco, California, the ING "Bay to Breakers" is a 12k Race, in partnership with AEG, the Staples Center Foundation, and others, along with the San Francisco Unified School District.
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From page 66... ...
Open Discussion In her presentation, Kelly noted the need for a "win-win" situation when a company decides to fund a program or establish a partnership. Expanding on this during the open discussion, White said that whether or not a particular program is funded is guided by the primary health conditions that WellPoint focuses on in support of the State Health Index.
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From page 67... ...
Another topic of discussion was the various compensation components that corporations provide to employees, specifically health benefits. Large companies often provide health benefits and are therefore a major contributor to addressing some of the socioeconomic determinants of health.
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