Mission
Pathways to Population Health – a capacity building nonprofit - envisions a billion dollar investment in healthy families and healthy communities by 2020.
If we gather resources and align community efforts to address the social determinants of health, then healthcare saves money, public health gets money, and families thrive.
In rural communities across America, we have the opportunity re-imagine funding streams, connect healthcare financing to evidence-based community programs and enhance the wellbeing of working families.
Goals
Our vision is for 1000 families receiving $1000 of locally funded services in 1000 counties; together, we will transform population health with a billion dollars before 2020.
For years, population health has have been trapped in a financial starvation cycle. In 2016, US hospital systems reported 34 billion dollars in uncompensated care. The primary drivers behind this huge loss were the social, economic and environmental issues that define unhealthy communities – the social determinants of health. During the same period, a mere 11 billion dollars was dispersed county health departments to promote health. Currently, hospitals lose more money on sick care than we spend as a community on healthy programs.
Healthcare stakeholders underinvest in the key infrastructure that would enable better population health outcomes. Healthcare payers must collaborate with county health departments, businesses and nonprofits to build a Culture of Health, serving one family at a time.
01.
–COmmunity-Clinic Connections
Our current system separates social and medical needs. Families receive fragmented, uncoordinated services. The result? Service in silos fails to enhance health and to promote wellbeing for children, parents and grandparents. We need to communities to collaborate. We need a new system that promotes health where we live, work, learn, play and worship.
02.
–Local Financing for Population Health
Paying for Population Health is hard, especially in rural communities. For years, state and federal budgets have underinvested in infrastructure to support collective impact in small-town America. However, our towns are resilient. Effective population health programs can be financed using local funds and existing services.
03.
–Prioritize Kitchen Table Issues
We use social data, existing community services, and community feedback to inform systems change. Working families care about safety, jobs, childcare, schools, and access to critical, life-changing services.
04.
–Build Healthier Communities
Geography has a bigger effect on health outcomes than genetics or healthcare services. We can improve quality of length, reduce hardship, and transform health outcomes by focusing on the upstream drivers of health and disease, including: affordable housing, better jobs, quality education, safe neighborhoods, smart systems, and coordinated services.
GRACE: Gather Resources + Align Community Efforts... Grace changes lives.
Dr. Nathan Fleming MD MPH, President and Author
Why We Exist
Pathways to Population Health – a capacity building nonprofit - envisions a billion dollar investment in healthy families and healthy communities by 2020. For years, population health has have been trapped in a financial starvation cycle. In 2016, US hospital systems reported 34 billion dollars in uncompensated care. The primary drivers behind this huge loss were the social, economic and environmental issues that define unhealthy communities – the social determinants of health. During the same period, a 11 billion dollars was dispersed county health departments to promote health. Currently, hospitals lose more money on sick care than we spend as a community on healthy programs.
Healthcare stakeholders underinvest in the key infrastructure that would enable better population health outcomes. Healthcare payers must collaborate with county health departments, businesses and nonprofits to build a Culture of Health, serving one family at a time.
If we gather resources and align community efforts to address the social determinants of health, then healthcare saves money, public health gets money, and families thrive. Healthcare payers typically receive an ROI of at 3:1 when communities invest dollars to address social needs. In counties across America, we have the opportunity re-imagine funding streams, connect healthcare financing to evidence-based community programs and enhance the wellbeing of Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed families.
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