■ Health Planning Activities
The Treasure Coast Health Council, Inc. provides planning support, data and information, grant solicitation, and facilitated planning sessions for the local coalitions on a variety of health-related issues.
- Needs Assessments and Service Delivery Planning for persons with HIV/AIDS in District 9;
- TCHC is supporting and participating in Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP), a new approach to health planning, in the counties in District 9.
- TCHC has developed a health profile document for each county in District 9 documenting key indicators and health statistics.
For more information on health planning for District 9, please contact Barbara Jacobowitz at (561) 844-4220 x25 or at bjacobowitz@tchealthcouncil.org
Hospital and Nursing Home Utilization Data
TCHC is required by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to collect monthly utilization data from licensed hospitals and nursing home facilities for District 9. This data is compiled on a quarterly basis and forwarded to AHCA. The data is also sent to annual data subscribers (hospitals, nursing homes, and consultants) that use the information for market analysis and to identify trends. For more information on utilization data, please contact Louis Kolber at (561) 844-4220 ext. 36 or at lkolber@tchealthcouncil.org. Electronic versions of the blank reports are now available: ■ Nursing Home ■ Hospital
Certificate of Need
TCHC is under contract with the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) to provide program support for the Florida Certificate of Need (CON) Program. Such support includes conducting public hearings on proposed CON projects, monitoring approved projects and filing status reports to the AHCA. For more information on CON activities in District 9, please contact Kymberley Lucas at (561) 844-4220 ext. 24 or at klucas@tchealthcouncil.org.
■ Current Projects
Disaster Preparedness for Persons With Disabilities
The Florida Department of Health and the Taskforce for Persons with Disabilities and Preparedness commissioned regional surveys of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in order to improve disaster planning for PWD, particularly during a catastrophic event in which this population may be more vulnerable.
Phase 1
2006
During the first phase of this study, four local health councils conducted a total of 2,400 surveys in ten Florida counties as follows:
- Broward Regional Health Council conducted 600 surveys in Broward County
- Health Council of South Florida conducted 600 surveys in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties
- Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida conducted 600 surveys in Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, Lee, and Sarasota Counties
- Treasure Coast Health Council conducted 600 surveys in Okeechobee and Palm Beach Counties
In December 2006, the Broward Regional Health Planning Council published the results of the first phase entitled Disaster and Emergency Preparedness: Report of the 2006 Regional Census and Survey of Persons with Disabilities. To view the full report, which addresses issues related to health care access, mobility, and personal preparedness and communication in the ten counties that participated in the first phase, please click here.
Phase 2
2007
During the second phase, four local health councils conducted a total of 2,400 surveys in fifteen additional counties as follows:
- Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida conducted 600 surveys in Volusia, Flagler, and St. John Counties
- Health Council of East Central Florida conducted 600 surveys in Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole
- Health Council of West Central Florida conducted 600 surveys in Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Polk Counties
- Treasure Coast Health Council conducted 600 surveys in Indian River, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties.
In August of 2007, Treasure Coast Health Council published the results of the project's second phase, Disaster and Emergency Preparedness: Report of the 2007 Regional Survey of Persons with Disabilities. To view the full report, which addresses issues related to health care access, mobility, and personal preparedness and communication in the fifteen counties that participated in the second phase, please click here.
Questions?
Please contact Barbara Feeney at (561) 844-4220 ext. 27 bfeeney@tchealthcouncil.org
Breaking The Silence
In response to the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS among Blacks, the Florida Department of Health published Silence is Death, The Crisis of HIV/AIDS in Florida’s Black Communities. The report identified St. Lucie County as one of twenty counties in Florida with the highest rates of PLWH/A among all races in general as well as among Blacks, Whites, and Hispanics. Of greatest concern is the fact that Blacks in St. Lucie County have the highest rate of HIV/AIDS of any racial or ethnic group in Florida at 2,858.7 per 100,000 population. In comparison, the rate for Whites in St. Lucie County is 142.7 and among Hispanics is 232.5 per 100,000.
While several groups in the area already provide a complex array of HIV/AIDS related services, the St. Lucie County Health Department contracted with Treasure Coast Health Council to develop a comprehensive plan to Break the Silence… and reduce the burden of HIV/AIDS among St. Lucie County’s most vulnerable populations.
Click here to download and read the entire document. (Revised, January, 2008)
As a follow-up, St. Lucie County Health Department leadership and key staff will meet to review and discuss this report. It is expected that these discussions will strengthen the Department’s ability to develop and implement pragmatic objectives, strategies, and workplans to improve HIV prevention, intervention, intervention, and treatment in St. Lucie County.
Questions?
Please contact Barbara Feeney at (561) 844-4220 ext. 27 bfeeney@tchealthcouncil.org
HIV/AIDS Patient Care Service Usage on the Treasure Coast
In addition to the Prevention Initiatives listed above, TCHC is also working with the St. Lucie County Health Department to develop an implementation plan in order to ensure that People Living with HIV/AIDS have access to inpatient and outpatient health care services. The development of the plan will include: analysis of the most recent Prevention Plan for St. Lucie County, the Silence is Death Report published by the Florida Department of Health, and the Department of Health’s epidemiological reports. TCHC will work closely with local officials to decide on the critical elements and issues that need to be addressed. TCHC will develop a full implementation plan, which will include specific goals, objectives, and tasks, to ensure access to effective HIV prevention services for all residents in Area 15 (Martin, Indian River, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie Counties).