Sunee N. Mickle, Esq.

Senior Policy Analyst

Kansas Health Institute

October 12, 2007

Quality Improvement and Public Health in Kansas

Quality Improvement and Public Health in Kansas

The Multi-State Learning Collaborative II

Kansas Population OverviewKansas Population Overview

Frontier

Rural

Densely Settled

Semi-urbanUrban

Kansas Public Health SystemKansas Public Health System

Kansas has a decentralized public health system

In 2001, 103 of the 105 counties voluntarily organized themselves into 15 public health regions

Kansas Public Health RegionsKansas Public Health Regions

Introducing QI to KansasIntroducing QI to Kansas

March 2007 QI training workshop conducted by Stacy Baker of the PHF

2 day workshop

2 participants from each of the 15 public health regions

Representatives from KS Department of Health and Environment

Kansas MLC-2 Pilot ProjectsKansas MLC-2 Pilot Projects

West Central Public Health Initiative

West Central Public Health Initiative

Pilot project addresses two NACCHO performance standards related to the vaccination of children ages 6 months through 59 months

Monitor health status and understand issues facing the community through the use of local data

Protect people from health problems and health hazards

West Central Public Health Initiative

West Central Public Health Initiative

Counties 2005 2006Gove County 28.77% 7.53%

Logan County 27.02% 22.30%

Ness County 14.14% 8.49%

Sheridan County 38.64% 34.85%

Trego County 6.02% 22.75%

BASELINE INFLUENZA VACCINATION RATES 6 MONTHS – 59 MONTHS

West Central Public Health Initiative QI Findings

West Central Public Health Initiative QI Findings

There is a need for increased education and awareness about the influenza vaccine for the 6 month to 59 month age group

There is a need for better advertisements and communication with parents

Wildcat Public Health RegionWildcat Public Health Region

The MCH Oral Health Screening Project seeks to increase the number of children’s preventive dental screenings performed by health department practitioners in the region

The project also expects to increase oral health education provided to families during dental screenings

Wildcat Public Health Region QI Findings

Wildcat Public Health Region QI Findings

Lack of client dental education materials

Need for staff training on oral health assessments

Lack of staff time to complete assessments

LHD electronic data systems need revisions to capture data

East Central KS Public Health Coalition

East Central KS Public Health Coalition

Pilot project addresses Public Health Essential Service #1: Monitoring community health status

The region narrowed the scope of the project by focusing on Maternal and Child Health issues and conducted a QI training workshop to frame the pilot project topic

East Central KS Public Health Coalition QI Findings

East Central KS Public Health Coalition QI Findings

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing and treatment procedures are not provided uniformly throughout the region

STI testing and treatment protocols are different for each local health department in the region

Kansas MLC-2 Project IssuesKansas MLC-2 Project Issues

All three KS public health regions face data issues

Not all local health departments use the same data system

Solutions that work best for an entire public health region may not be the best solution for an individual county local health department

Tackling the IssuesTackling the Issues

Review and discussion of data systems by state and local health departments

Understanding that projects like MLC-2 help test the ability of public health regions to handle every day public health issues

Plans for the FuturePlans for the Future

Multi-faceted Approach• Structural Reformation---Political Support• Service Reformation---Support for Common

Vision• Cultural Reformation---Workforce

Development Support IT Systems Support

Incorporate QI Training into on-going public health training programs

The FutureThe Future

Continue positioning ourselves for accreditation. . .

Kansas Health InstituteKansas Health Institute

Information for policy makers. Health for Kansans.