HOUSTON (June 23, 2022) — Harris Health System has received the 2022 Gage Award for Population Health from America’s Essential Hospitals for its home visit program that helps diabetes patients manage their disease, particularly through the COVID-19 pandemic. It marks Harris Health’s second population health program recognized by the national association in consecutive years.
Harris Health’s Community Health Worker Home Visit Program helps patients through direct home visits control their diabetes (participants with hemoglobin A1C levels greater than 9%). A1C levels are three-month measures for glucose with 7% or under considered managed. Patients enroll in a four-month program that includes immersive diabetes education and step-by-step self-management lessons that includes healthy eating and exercise. Home workers also address other social barriers such as living in food deserts or not having transportation.
“For many of us in healthcare, the COVID-19 pandemic meant responding to our natural instincts to care and serve our community during a great time of need,” says Esmaeil Porsa, MD, president and CEO, Harris Health System. “Our hospital and clinical teams have received a lot of deserved attention for their dedicated response, but no other team like our Community Health Worker Home Visit Program epitomizes the critical work that happens beyond the walls of our facilities.”
“Their work, led by our Population Health Department, ensures that our patients struggling with managing their diabetes are not abandoned,” he adds. “These patients needed our help even more during a time when access to primary care providers proved to be very difficult. And our staff rose to the challenge to support them.”
From November 2020 to October 2021, the program’s 417 patient graduates reported an average drop in A1C levels of 2.2 percentage points and a three point increase in diabetes knowledge scores. This translates to less clinic or hospital emergency visits and greater acceptance of active, healthier lifestyles, says Ann Barnes, MD, MPH, senior vice president and chief health officer, Harris Health.
“We know that if we arm our patients with the tools and support to manage their diabetes and work with them directly to accomplish healthy lifestyle changes, they are more successful,” she says. “We can no longer tell patients what to do without us making sure they feel supported and guided through this process. Once they see improvements, we know they will continue to strive and be healthy.”
The Gage Awards, named after the association’s founder Larry Gage, honors and shares successful and creative member hospital programs that improve patient care and meet community needs. The award for population health recognizes activities focused on social determinants of health, such as food insecurity, homelessness, language barriers and other socioeconomic factors.
“On behalf of Harris Health System and all of our dedicated staff, thank you America’s Essential Hospitals for recognizing our team’s work with the 2022 Gage Award,” Porsa says. “This recognition, not only validates, but motivates us to continue our cross-sector approach to improve all of our patients’ health and well-being.”
America’s Essential Hospitals announced the Gage Award winners June 23 during its annual meeting, VITAL 2022, in Boston. The association represents more than 300 safety-net hospitals nationwide that care for underserved and economically disadvantaged patients.
“Even with the challenges and heavy costs of COVID-19, our hospitals found ways to innovate, improve care, and target upstream factors that affect health,” says Kalpana Ramiah, DrPH, MSc, vice president of innovation and director of Essential Hospitals Institute, America’s Essential Hospitals. “We are proud to recognize Harris Health System and our other awardees for their dedication to reaching marginalized people and overcoming barriers to care.”
In 2021, Harris Health received a Gage Award Honorable Mention for its food prescription program that helps patients with diabetes and food insecurity with free nutritious fruits and vegetables and food products directly from an in-house store located in select health centers.
For a profile video on Harris Health’s winning program or more information, visit America’s Essential Hospitals.