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Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization Moves to Phase III
by Steve McDowell
Community Systems Consultant
Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization (LVCHO) was the second DRIS site to celebrate their commencement of Phase III Implementation. On January 20, 2000 a reception was held to acknowledge the accomplishments of the LVCHO. During the ceremony, Luisa Buada of the California Institute for Rural Health Management (CIRHM), presented the LVCHO with their $200,000 DRIS milestone implementation grant from the James Irvine Foundation. Pat Brady was credited for her commitment to the LVCHO, the high quality of her work, her professionalism, persistence and for her great working relationship with her Board and CIRHM.
Dr. Barry Coughlin, the LVCHO chair of the Board, described the accomplishments to date of the LVCHO. The LVCHO has been successful in obtaining grant funds for a number of health services partnerships. Santa Barbara County awarded LVCHO funds to promote and manage substance abuse prevention services within the Lompoc community. LVCHO will develop a Youth and Family Center for treatment and intervention of substance abuse in alliance with Zona Seca and the Family Service Agency, two local substance treatment and prevention programs. In partnership with the CIRHM and elder service providers in the community, LVCHO will implement a nurse care coordinator, early intervention project for Medicare HMO seniors in the Lompoc area. This three year demonstration project has been funded by the California healthcare Foundation. LVCHO is planning to participate with Santa Barbara County in a healthcare information systems demonstration project.
The Lompoc Valley Healthcare Council, a sixty member committee of the LVCHO representing all facets of the community have directed their DRIS Council milestone grants to a number of important collaborations; 1) to support two class series using the Stanford Chronic Disease Self Management program; 2) to support the implementation of an ophthalmology specialty clinic at the public health department; 3) to purchase one of the defibrillators for the police cars to carry as first responders; 4) to pay for the services of a consultant to facilitate the Council's planning for substance abuse prevention services; 5) to purchase a fax machine for a patient registration project and 6) to help support Santa Barbara County Health Agency's study on Medicare Risk.
The LVCHO was formed in the Spring of 1998, during the DRIS Initiative, to improve the health of the community by assuring local access to a coordinated system of health promotion, disease prevention and treatment services that would be available to all. On February 26, 1999, LVCHO was successfully designated a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Pat Brady, the DRIS Local Coordinator was named Executive Director of the LVCHO in September of 1999.
The members of the LVCHO include: The Mission Valley IPA, Lompoc Healthcare District Hospital, Lompoc Chamber of Commerce, Lompoc based Santa Barbara County Public Health and Mental Health Services and the Lompoc Valley Healthcare Council. The Community Healthcare Council is comprised of representatives of a broad spectrum of community leaders. Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, small business, local government, large employers, clergy, labor and healthcare providers are all represented with a voice in the activities of the LVCHO.
Incrementally the LVCHO will develop the following functions over the next five years:
- Single Signature Contracting
- Community Health Information Network
- Community Health Improvement Program Management
- Medical Management
- Grants Management and Support
- Practice Management
LVCHO is young organization, full of promise, we look forward to watching it progress and evolve.
© CIRHM