Swope Health Services

SWOPE HEALTH SERVICES (SHS) IMPROVES THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE COMMUNITY BY DELIVERING ACCESSIBLE, QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE PATIENT CARE.

SWOPE HEALTH IS A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER (FQHC) SERVING KANSAS CITY AND THE SURROUNDING BISTATE COMMUNITY AND IS ACCREDITED BY THE JOINT COMMISSION AND THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES. SWOPE HEALTH OPERATES A FULL-SERVICE CLINIC IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, PLUS MISSOURI SATELLITE CLINICS IN BELTON, EAST KC, INDEPENDENCE, HICKMAN MILLS, NORTHLAND AND MAPLE WOODS, AND TWO CLINICS IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY, KANSAS. IN 2021, SWOPE HEALTH SERVED OVER 41,000 UNIQUE PATIENTS AND PROVIDED OVER 200,000 SERVICES TO ALL PATIENTS. CLOSE TO HALF OF SWOPE HEALTH'S PATIENTS ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN, NEARLY A THIRD ARE WHITE AND MOST OF THE REMAINING PATIENTS ARE HISPANIC/LATINX OR AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKA NATIVE. WE ARE EXPERIENCING GROWTH IN OUR HISPANIC/LATINX PATIENT POPULATIONS AT MOST LOCATIONS, CONSISTENT WITH RECENT NATIONAL CENSUS DATA. WE HAVE ACHIEVED LEVEL 3 PRIMARY CARE MEDICAL HOME (PCMH) RECOGNITION BY THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE (NCQA). SOME EXAMPLES OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS:COVID-19 RESPONSE: AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH 2020, THE FIRST COVID-19 CASE IN KANSAS CITY WAS REPORTED. SWOPE HEALTH SPRANG INTO ACTION: EDUCATING OUR ASSOCIATES, PLANNING AND PREPARING FOR THE PANDEMIC. BY MID-MARCH WE HAD SUSPENDED WALK-INS, WELL-EXAMS AND NON-ESSENTIAL APPOINTMENTS AT ALL LOCATIONS. WE BEGAN SCREENING, ISOLATING SICK PATIENTS AND ENCOURAGING HAND WASHING, MASK WEARING AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING. OUR ASSOCIATES WHO COULD WORK REMOTELY DID SO WHILE WE WORKED TO GET MORE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, CLEANING SUPPLIES AND THE THEN-SCARCE COVID-19 TESTS. WE CONDUCTED OUR FIRST TESTING IN MARCH OF THAT YEAR, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE ADDING AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS, RESTRUCTURING PUBLIC AREAS FOR DISTANCING, AND RAMPING UP OUR TELEMEDICINE CAPACITY. FOR OUR FRONTLINE ASSOCIATES WITH KIDS HOME FROM SCHOOL, WE OFFERED SUPPORT FOR DAYCARE SERVICES. WE ESTABLISHED DEDICATED COVID-19 CLINICS AT SWOPE HEALTH CENTRAL AND WYANDOTTE, AS WELL AS DRIVE-THROUGH TESTING CAPABILITIES. WE RAMPED UP TO PROVIDE TESTING IN THE COMMUNITY. IN 2020, COVID-19 TESTING EVENTS TOOK US TO MORE THAN 80 LOCATIONS IN THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA, INCLUDING: KANSAS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARIES; QUINDARO COMMUNITY CENTER; SALVATION ARMY ADULT REHAB CENTER; BENILDE HALL; HEALING HOUSE; WELCOME HOUSE; AMETHYST PLACE; MATTIE RHODES CENTER; REDISCOVER; PLATTE COUNTY BOARD OF SERVICES; GUADALUPE CENTER; AND LAWNDALE SENIOR LIVING APARTMENTS. OUR VISITS TO SCHOOLS INCLUDED KIPP ENDEAVOR ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL, SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL AND SCUOLA VITA NUOVA CHARTER SCHOOL. WE HELD EVENTS AT LOCAL CHURCHES, SUCH AS HOLY NAME OF JESUS CATHOLIC CHURCH, TRINITY UNITED METHODIST, MOUNT PLEASANT MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, MEMORIAL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, AND THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. THIS EFFORT CONTINUED THROUGH 2021. TO DATE, SWOPE HEALTH HAS COMPLETED MORE THAN 17,000 COVID-19 TESTS THROUGHOUT THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA.THE FIRST VACCINES AGAINST COVID-19 WERE APPROVED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2020. IN DECEMBER, WE DISTRIBUTED THE FIRST VACCINATIONS TO SWOPE HEALTH ASSOCIATES AND PLANS WERE MADE FOR LARGE COMMUNITY VACCINATION EVENTS. WE FOLLOWED A SIMILAR PLAN OF PROVIDING THE VACCINE TO ALL ELIGIBLE AGE GROUPS FIRST THROUGH COMMUNITY EVENTS AND THEN ON SITE, AT ALL SWOPE HEALTH PRIMARY CARE SITES. TO DATE, WE HAVE VACCINATED MORE THAN 19,000 IN THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA. FREE AND LOW-COST MEDICATIONS: SWOPE HEALTH PARTICIPATES IN THE U.S. HEALTH RESOURCES & SERVICES ADMINISTRATION'S (HRSA) 340B DRUG PRICING PROGRAM OFFERING LOW-COST PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS TO OUR UNINSURED AND HOMELESS PATIENTS THROUGH INHOUSE PHARMACY AND THROUGH CONTRACTED PHARMACY NETWORK. IN ADDITION, SWOPE HEALTH PROVIDERS UTILIZE PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WHEN APPROPRIATE. MATERNAL AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES: PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE SWOPE HEALTH'S SERVICE AREA OFTEN DO NOT RECEIVE EARLY AND CONSISTENT PRENATAL CARE. THIS CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR INCREASED RISK FOR INFANT MORTALITY OR DELIVERING PREMATURE AND/OR LOW BIRTHWEIGHT INFANTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND OTHER EXPENSIVE AND DEBILITATING LONG-TERM HEALTH AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS. SWOPE HEALTH SERVES A POPULATION WITH A HIGHER PREMATURITY RATE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. WE PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY, ENROLL, AND KEEP PREGNANT WOMEN IN OUR PRENATAL PROGRAM. SWOPE HEALTH DATA SHOW THAT WOMEN IN OUR PRENATAL PROGRAM EXPERIENCE A LOWER INCIDENCE OF NEGATIVE OUTCOMES. FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES ARE ALSO OFFERED. KNOWING INADEQUATE DENTAL HYGIENE AND ORAL INFECTIONS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO PREMATURE LABOR, WE ALSO REFER PREGNANT WOMEN TO OUR DENTAL DEPARTMENT FOR ANY NECESSARY DENTAL CARE.SWOPE HEALTH ALSO SUPPORTS NEW MOTHERS WITH POST-PARTUM CARE THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. FOR EXAMPLE, WE OFFER CLASSES AND ONE-TO-ONE COUNSELING TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO BREASTFEED THEIR BABIES, A STRATEGY THAT IS NOT ONLY COST SAVING BUT PROVIDES A HOST OF LONG-TERM HEALTH BENEFITS TO THE MOTHER AND CHILD. OUR WIC PROGRAM PROVIDES BREAST PUMPS AND NUTRITION EDUCATION TO THESE NEW MOMS. SWOPE HEALTH HAS REALIGNED ASSETS AND RESOURCES FOR THE CARE OF INFANTS, CHILDREN, AND ADOLESCENTS IN ITS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, WHICH SERVED NEARLY 10,000 CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PATIENTS IN 2021. SWOPE HEALTH HAS PROVIDED HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO TREAT EVERYTHING FROM SPRAINS AND CUTS TO COLDS AND THE FLU, AS WELL AS CHRONIC ILLNESS, INCLUDING ASTHMA AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. CHILDREN'S SERVICES HAS DEVELOPED PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIPS THAT IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE AND SERVICES FOR VULNERABLE OR UNDERSERVED PEDIATRIC POPULATIONS, INCLUDING NEWBORN HEALTH SUPERVISION, ASTHMA MANAGEMENT, MOBILE PEDIATRIC SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES. BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT CAN IMPAIR THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF A CHILD, SWOPE HEALTH MAKES EVERY EFFORT TO IDENTIFY THESE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS EARLY AND INITIATE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT BEFORE A DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEM BECOMES A PERMANENT DISABILITY.TO PROVIDE CHILDREN IN A HIGH-CRIME URBAN AREA WITH A SAFE AND EXCITING HALLOWEEN EXPERIENCE, SWOPE HEALTH SPONSORS AN ANNUAL "TREAT TOWN" AT THE CENTRAL LOCATION. IN 2021, IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, SWOPE HEALTH CONVERTED TREAT TOWN INTO A DRIVE-THROUGH EXPERIENCE. THE RESPONSE WAS OVERWHELMING FROM THE COMMUNITY AS MORE THAN 1,300 CHILDREN WORE THEIR COSTUMES AND WERE CHAUFFEURED BY PARENTS AND GUARDIANS TO RECEIVE TREATS, TOOTHBRUSHES, INFORMATION ON OUR HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY, AND SAFETY TIPS REGARDING COVID-19. ADULT MEDICAL SERVICES: SWOPE HEALTH HAS ALWAYS ADVOCATED FOR PREVENTIVE CARE AND LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS. THE MAJORITY OF SWOPE HEALTH PATIENTS HAVE CHRONIC CONDITIONS LIKE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (HYPERTENSION, HYPERLIPIDEMIA OR MYOCARDIAL INJURY, TO NAME A FEW), DIABETES, DEPRESSION, ETC. IF NOT PROPERLY MANAGED, THESE CHRONIC CONDITIONS CAN HAVE SERIOUS AND LIFE-ALTERING COMPLICATIONS, SUCH AS HEART ATTACK, STROKE, AND KIDNEY FAILURE. OUR STATE-SPONSORED HEALTH CARE HOME PROGRAM INVOLVES CARE COORDINATORS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSULTANTS AND CASE MANAGERS WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH PATIENTS TO HELP MANAGE THEIR HEALTH. NURSES IN THE HEALTH CARE HOME PROGRAM MONITOR THE CRITICAL INDICATORS OF THE PATIENTS' CHRONIC DISEASES; EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF ADHERING TO MEDICATION REGIMENS; AND ADVISE THEM ABOUT DIET, EXERCISE AND OTHER SELF-MANAGEMENT LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT ARE KNOWN TO SLOW THE PROGRESSION OF THEIR DISEASE. CURRENTLY WE HAVE SEVERAL CASE MANAGERS/CARE COORDINATORS TO HELP OUR PATIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR HEALTH GOALS, AND WE HAVE HIRED STAFF TO PROVIDE SIMILAR CARE TO PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC DISEASE WHO ARE NOT ENROLLED IN THE HEALTH CARE HOME PROGRAM, PARTICULARLY UNINSURED, UNCONTROLLED DIABETICS. WE HAVE MODIFIED OUR WORKFLOWS AND ORGANIZED OUR STAFF, INCLUDING CARE MANAGERS, TO WORK IN TEAMS TO BETTER HELP THESE PATIENTS NAVIGATE THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. THIS IS A HUGE INITIATIVE AND REQUIRES SEVERAL TASKS TRACKING LAB RESULTS, REFERRALS TO SPECIALTY CARE, HOSPITAL AND EMERGENCY ROOM FOLLOW UPS. WE CONTINUE TO HIRE CARE MANAGERS, REFERRAL COORDINATORS, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE. SWOPE HEALTH ALSO HELPS PATIENTS WITH DIABETES AND OTHER CHRONIC DISEASES BY EDUCATING THEM ON DISEASE MANAGEMENT AND LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION. A DIABETES EDUCATOR, DIETICIAN, NURSE CARE MANAGERS, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.