Health
Partnership HealthPlan of California (PHC) is increasing its involvement in social media as part of its commitment to engage the community in conversations surrounding healthcare.
PHC has established a presence on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter and will use other social media sites as they become more popular options for the communities PHC serves.
“We are responding to our members and community stakeholders,” said Jack Horn, chief executive officer of Partnership HealthPlan of California. “One of our goals has always been to be a locally responsive health plan. We never stop looking for new ways to communicate so we can get fast honest feedback on how we’re doing. As an organization, we are excited to be a part of the social media experience, but we also know that our audience will drive this. That’s what social media is all about.”
Initial plans include the use of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to provide health tips, general information about PHC, job postings, articles on medical breakthroughs, community resources and local events.
As users engage PHC, content may shift depending on the level of interest.
“Ideally we should always be speaking to our members and the community in the ways that they choose – whether that’s by phone, email, postal mail, in person or through social media,” Horn said. “Otherwise, you’re just talking at them, not with them.”
Through conversations on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other sites, PHC has found yet another way to respond immediately to members’ concerns about their health care, while still protecting individual privacy and confidentiality.
“That part is key,” Horn said. “Messages we receive about members or their healthcare are treated just as we handle phone calls into our call center – quickly, completely and confidentially.”
PHC began operating in 1994 and serves Medi-Cal recipients in 14 Northern California counties.
Additional information can be found at www.partnershiphp.org .
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With historic investments from the Affordable Care Act and the Recovery Act, the National Health Service Corps has supported nearly 14,000 health care providers between 2009 and 2013, including 1,072 in California.
“Because of the Affordable Care Act, the National Health Service Corps is providing loans and scholarships to more doctors, nurses, and other health care providers, so more people get the care they need,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “National Health Service Corps clinicians are providing care to approximately 9.3 million patients across the country.”
The National Health Service Corps provides loan repayment and scholarships to health care providers who commit to practicing in the areas of the United States that need them most.
There are nearly 8,900 primary care clinicians currently providing care in the National Health Service Corps. The number of providers has increased by nearly two and half times since 2008.
In addition to Corps clinicians currently providing care, nearly 1,000 students, residents, and health providers in the National Health Service Corps pipeline are preparing to go into practice.
“More than 85 percent of National Health Service Corps providers continue to serve in high need areas two years after their service commitment is met,” said HRSA Administrator Dr. Mary K. Wakefield , Ph.D., R.N. “The Affordable Care Act’s investment in the Corps helps ensure underserved communities have access to quality health care.”
The National Health Service Corps made more than 4,500 loan repayment and scholarship awards to clinicians and students in fiscal year 2013 thanks to an investment of more than $284 million from the Affordable Care Act. Grants were also made to 32 states to support state loan repayment programs thanks to this funding.
This is part of the administration’s commitment to strengthen and diversify the nation’s workforce to meet growing demand. A new report shows that more than half of the nearly 1,000 corps scholars in the pipeline report that they are minorities. The report also includes new state-level data on awards.
For the new report, Helping Primary Care Clinicians Practice in the Communities Where They are Needed Most: National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment and Scholarships, visit http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/currentmembers/fieldstrength.pdf .
The Health Resources and Services Administration is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HRSA is the primary federal agency responsible for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable.
For more information about NHSC programs, please visit www.NHSC.hrsa.gov .
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