Continuing the Conversation: Health Impact Ohio’s CVS Health Zones Learning Collaborative

By: Heidi Welch, Chief of Strategic Engagement & Operations, Health Impact Ohio

Collaboration is central to improving health outcomes.

When community organizations, Community Health Workers (CHWs), and healthcare partners come together, they create opportunities to share what is working, identify challenges, and find new ways to better serve the people and communities who rely on them.

That was evident when HIO hosted its latest CVS Health Zones Learning Collaborative, bringing partners together for continued learning, data sharing, and discussion on ways to strengthen connections to care and resources.

Turning Data into Action

Participants in the learning collaborative took a closer look at data from the work of our Care Coordination Agencies (CCAs) and CHWs participating in the CVS Health Zones-funded care coordination work, and examined several areas where continued focus and intentional outreach can make a difference, including early pregnancy enrollment, diabetes and hypertension, and behavioral health screening.

These conversations give partners an opportunity to look beyond the numbers and ask important questions: Where are we reaching people successfully? Are there opportunities to engage individuals earlier? And how can we continue improving the connections between clients and available resources?

The learning collaborative meeting also featured an overview of Unite Us—a technology platform designed to connect community organizations and systems through coordinated referrals. The platform brings together community-based organizations, workforce boards, local government, job centers, and other partners to support bi-directional referrals, secure communication, and coordinated care, with the goal of creating a more streamlined experience for both organizations and the individuals they serve.

For CHWs and community organizations, strong referral networks can make a meaningful difference. When organizations can communicate and coordinate around the needs of clients, patients, and families, they can help create a more connected system of support.

At HIO, we know that improving health outcomes requires looking at the whole person. That's why collaboration matters. It gives partners the opportunity to step back from their individual roles and see how the larger system works together.

Every connection matters.

Every conversation creates an opportunity to learn.

And every partnership brings us one step closer to creating stronger, more connected systems of care.