The point is health.
Our job (mission) at St. Luke’s Health Initiatives is to improve the health of all Arizonans. That’s no small task, which is why we so often partner with like-minded groups on work that fits our resources and skills: playing the catalyst role for community health, mostly in Maricopa County.
And the keys to improving health? Turns out they’re found in more places than most people suspect.
Becoming better at ensuring and restoring health requires health care system change. It boils down to greater access to care, improved quality, and lower costs – to individuals and to society. In FY2013, that translated to making the most of the Affordable Care Act’s most timely opportunities, like care access for Arizona’s most vulnerable populations and affordable health coverage for everyone. Naturally, it also triggered work towards knowing we’ll have enough skilled people to take care of us. And we took a closer look at early childhood development and how the system can improve. But the system only goes so far.
To be healthier, we need better solutions where we live, work, learn, and play. Like safer, more livable streets for walkers, cyclists and cars. Like health-oriented city policies and long-range plans. Like better access to healthy eating options. Like neighborhoods with safe, welcoming and easy choices for active living. Like efforts that close the health gaps between different groups of people. Like resourceful community networks that can tap into built-in strengths to create the strongest, most-likely-to-last solutions.
There are lots of official terms for everything we just mentioned. Accountable Care Organizations, Patient-Centered Medical Homes, Graduate Medical Education, Essential Benefits, Safety Net Rebuilding, Health Impact Assessments, Medicaid Expansion, Health Insurance Exchanges, Early Childhood Development, Capacity Building, Technical Assistance, Complete Streets, Transit-Oriented Development, Collective Impact… The list goes on.
But let’s be clear.
The point is to truly sow the seeds of better health throughout our lives. The point is to nurture them by focusing on the most timely, most effective options that are ‘in-season.’ To cultivate, watch closely, respond, and learn as we go. To adjust as needed, and then begin the work all over again. Until we get it right. Until we know that we are taking care of ourselves using the best we have to offer. Until we can prove that Arizona is growing healthier communities in the most successful ways possible.
The point is to be strong stewards of what we have to offer as a foundation, in the service of the health of all Arizonans. Buzzwords and technical jargon give us a way to talk amongst ourselves, but the outcomes had better speak to, and help create, a better Arizona.
And that’s the point of this annual report website. For you to take a look around and judge for yourself how we did.
Let us know how well you think we stayed on point.