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2008 Model Practice Application (Public)

Application Name: 2008 Model Practice Application (Public) : Sitka Public Helath Center : Sitka Health Summit: Working Together for a Healthier Sitka
Applicant Name: Ms. Kate Slotnick, RN
Practice Title
Sitka Health Summit: Working Together for a Healthier Sitka
Submitting LHD/Agency/Organization
City & Borough of Sitka

Overview

Learning Objectives: 1) List steps to mobilizing community members to action planning for a healthier community; 2) Recognize the importance of celebrating “small” successes in winning partners; and 3) Application of Sitka’s (an island community, accessible only by plane or boat) process to any community regardless of size or perceived resources.
Responsiveness and Innovation
The Sitka Health Summit was developed to address the need for more primary prevention within Sitka. Too much of our health care system is focused on secondary and tertiary prevention. If we could increase acceptance to primary prevention from the medical community and everyday citizens we would significantly decrease the burden of disease within the community. The Health Summit was a way for a diverse group of Sitkans to come together and focus on health and well care--what does it mean?, what does it look like?, how do we get there? By actively soliciting from a broad range of community members, the Health Summit emerged into the community's Summit and not just the domain of the health care practitioners. Additionally, one day of the Summit was devoted to "nest steps" planning--where do we go from here? The next steps planning was well attended by community members (cross cut of all sectors) and was an opportunity for citizens to determine what their major health priorities were. As a group they determined the need for carrying on the ideals of the Health Summit and selected and created action steps for addressing the top four priorities which were: 1) Make Sitka a Bike and Pedestrian Friendly Community, 2) Improve the Nutritional Environment in Schools, 3)Develop a Community Recreation and Wellness Facility, 4) Bring Insurance Companies and Employers Together to Improve the Health Status of Employees in Sitka. By making the entire process open to any interested community member, the Sitka Health Summit addressed the needs of community members as directly expressed by them. The responsiveness by the community to the Health Summit and the next steps planning was far greater than anything we had anticipated. This was an indication that the Health Summit hit upon a model that could effectively bring about change within the community. We looked to other communities around Alaska and the United States to determine what they were doing to solicit input from their communities for the purpose of moving toward a Healthier Community. Not finding an approach that appeared to fit the dynamics of Sitka, we looked to the PACE, PATCH and MAPP models. Finding those to be based from a starting point of commitment to the process rather than commitment to specific goals, we determined the need for an approach that would begin with visioning and statement of priorities and then asking for commitment. This approach garnered widespread community support. Community members appreciated the opportunity to voice their priorities and from there be given the opportunity to determine how they wanted to address them. The approach to the Sitka Health Summit was unique in several ways. The CEOs of the two local hospitals came together of their own accord to discuss and address ways they could collaborate to improve health and wellness within Sitka. Additionally, the steering committee purposely sought individuals from all realms of Sitka society to come together to establish and plan for a Health Summit where an entire day was devoted to hearing from the community--what were their health concerns/priorities, what did they feel could be done to address them, should we attempt to make change, and were they willing to be actively involved in the process of change. Direct community engagement was sought much like with PACE, PATCH and MAPP, but unlike those programs, the Sitka Health Summit did not utilize a formulaic approach to community planning. We simply asked community members to brainstorm issues and prioritize those issues by assigning "dots" to the issues that mattered most to them. From there, we were able to see the top four "vote getters." We then asked if there was a commitment to work to address those issues. The answer being "yes", members divided into groups based upon the four issues and created an action plan for addressing the respective issues over the course of the next 12 months. We did not ask community members to commit to a long proc
Agency Community Roles
Alaska, and Sitka specifically, does not have a local health department. All health related activities are carried out through the State of Alaska Public Health Nursing (PHN), the two local hospitals, private medical clinics and the City and Borough of Sitka's Health Commission Task force, all of whom were involved in the Sitka Health Summit. The City & Borough, PHNs, the hospital CEOs and other staff members as well as individuals from the private medical centers and other private organizations, all were involved in the steering committee, fund raising, provision of in-kind and monetary donations, et al. From beginning to end, this was a collaborative process involving all sectors of the Sitka Health care scene. Because there is no LHD to drive the process of the Sitka Health Summit, the process really was one of the people--they came together on their own initiative and collaborated to make the Sitka Health Summit a reality.
Costs and Expenditures
Implementation: The CEO's of the two local hospitals (SEARHC-Mt. Edgecumbe and Sitka Community Hospital) met in October of 2006 to discuss ways to increase collaboration and improve wellness within Sitka. They determined the need for a Health Summit that would educate Sitkans about the benefits of integrating wellness into their lives and build bridges between traditional health care providers and Complementary and Alternative Medicine practitioners. Start-up: Because the impetus came from the CEOs of the hospitals, each donated funds which allowed the idea of a Sitka Health Summit to take shape and come to fruition. In-Kind: Numerous local entities in Sitka donated in-kind services (labor, food, materials, advertising space, etc) toward making the Health Summit a success. They included but are not limited to: the two hospitals, Steps to a Healthier Southeast Alaska, Premera Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alaska, Paula Scott Insurance, Great West HealthCare, Sitka Medical Center, State of Alaska Public Health Nursing, Armed services YMCA of Alaska, and the City and Borough of Sitka. Funding Sources: Steps to a Healthier Southeast Alaska; Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital; Sitka Community Hospital; Premera Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alaska; Paula Scott Insurance; Great West HealthCare; Sitka Medical Center; State of Alaska Public Health Nursing; City and Borough of Sitka; Armed Services YMCA of Alaska.
Implementation
In October 2006 the hospital CEOs met and determined the need for a Health Summit. From their meeting, a steering committee of twelve people was created to flesh out the details of a health summit. Bi-weekly meetings were held from October 2006 through April 26-27, 2007, the date of the Health Summit. In a six month window, the steering committee committed to a vision statement, established goals and objectives for the Summit, established an agenda, arranged for a keynote speaker, made facility arrangements to include location and catering, travel and accommodations for the speaker, advertising and soliciting donations (monetary and in-kind) from the community, and generating community buy-in. October 2006: planning meetings-who needs to be at the table? November 2006: who is our Target Audience? What message do we want to send? December 2006: Defining goals and objectives; Issue Press Release alerting community that planning is underway & giving the dates of the summit January/February 2007: Topic selection and speaker search and confirmation March 2007: Finalize Vision Statement; Contract with speaker; Travel arrangements made; Agenda set; facilities arranged and reserved; Advertise to the Community; Send invitations out to Policy Makers, Health Care Providers & Community at large; Solicit Award Nominations from the Community for "Sitka Health Role Models and Wellness Champions" April 2007: Finalize all arrangements; Selection of "Sitka Health Role Models and Wellness Champions"; Strong Advertising/Announcement to Community; Governor issues proclamation Proclaiming April 26-27, 2007 as "Sitka Health Summit Days" and commending Sitka for its steps toward community wellness April 26-27: 1st Annual Sitka Health Summit and Community Celebration of Wellness.
Sustainability
Because the Sitka Health Summit was a true product of the people, commitment was assured. Had the community/stakeholders not been committed to the process, the Summit would never have taken place. This buy-in from the outset helped to insure some level of sustainability for the Summit. In addition, because one day of the Summit was devoted to Next Steps planning which resulted in four priority areas being selected, there was a measure in place to determine the long range commitment to the process. Would the community having just selected their top four priorities actually stick to the action steps they set for themselves in order to achieve their goals? Not quite one year out, significant achievement has been seen in all four priority areas. This, too, helps insure sustainability as successes are seen and celebrated which furthers the energy and commitment of all involved. Having seen what can and has been achieved, community members are asking what next? The answer is a now annual Health Summit that provides a regular venue for community input and steering of the health goals for the community.
Outcome Process Evaluation
The first Health Summit took place April 26-27, 2007 and was a resounding success with over 250 people in attendance. After a series of lectures and workshops on community wellness, a diverse group of Sitkans got together for a “Bringing It All Together-Next Steps” action planning round table. The group determined the need for a continuation of what the Summit began and developed a list of priorities that would lead to a healthier Sitka. The top four priority areas to help Sitka achieve its vision of community wellness were (1) Create a bike and pedestrian friendly community, (2) Improve the nutritional environment in schools, (3) Develop a community recreation center, and (4) Bring employers and insurance companies together to improve the health status of employees in Sitka. Results: In nine months time, significant progress has been made in all four areas. As a result of the community’s efforts Sitka expects to receive recognition this spring as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, vending machine content has undergone a changeover in all of the Sitka schools, a community recreation center is well on the way to reality, and employers have been actively participating in WELCOA’s Working Well program to bring employee health to the forefront of business. The second annual Sitka Health Summit is scheduled for May 2008.
Lessons Learned
Key Elements Replication