Prevention Institute’s health systems transformation efforts focus on broadening out the definition of the health system to include all the organizations and sectors that contribute to people’s health. The health system in the United States is typically thought of as the network of hospitals, health plans, and community health centers where people receive clinical care. But the system that supports thriving and equitable communities is far broader. During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health agencies and the work they do to support community health, safety, and wellbeing were thrust into the spotlight. Community-based organizations also play a crucial role: during the pandemic, they provided food, financial support, eviction protection, ways to maintain social connection, and other basics that communities need in order to be healthy.
The Community-Centered Health Homes model, first presented by Prevention Institute in 2011, provides a concrete framework for healthcare organizations to systematically address the community conditions that impact their patients. It combines years of prevention experience about how to keep people from getting sick or injured, with insight gained from interviewing healthcare organizations around the country who were inspired to improve their patients’ health and the health of the communities around them.
