Printer-friendly format

In recent years, grassroots campaigns to build a healthier community have taken shape in Memphis.

As medical care has moved toward the power of prevention, physicians, community leaders and patients are taking a proactive role in promoting healthier habits to avoid chronic illness and disease. The obesity rate in America for all adults over age 20 is 32 percent, nearly 65 million, according to statistics complied by the National Institutes of Health. This leads to an overall cost to the medical industry of $117 billion because the risk factors associated with overweight and obesity. Risks range from coronary disease and type 2 diabetes, conditions that are crippling the healthcare system, to cancer, gall bladder disease and orthopedic disabilities, which lead to major quality of life issues. The modern schools of thought understand healthy living comes not from treating illness but preventing illness through proper nutrition, adequate exercise and nurturing mental and spiritual health.

At Harbor of Health in downtown Memphis, the approach is to combine traditional medicine along with complimentary therapies such as massage and fitness into a one-stop shop for healthcare consumers. Opened in October 2005, Harbor of Health, located in Harbor Town, is an experimental approach to family medicine demonstrating the model of care defined by the American Association of Family Physicians and guidelines adapted by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Both outline patient-friendly access and increased options for preventive and complimentary care.

Dr. Scott Morris, executive director of the Church Health Center, was approached to help develop this for-profit facility with the same fundamental foundation as the not-for-profit Church Health Center: prevention, spirituality, individualized care and at least 10 percent charity care. Harbor of Health has a clinic with six care rooms, including a room used exclusively for acupuncture and massage, and a fitness center next door.

"The members of the board talked about, 'Wouldn't it be great if we could include primary care, prevention, complimentary therapy, all the things healthcare professionals know contribute to health and well-being [and] fit those under one roof?'," explained director Steele Ford. "Harbor Town was chosen because it's a finite community in which to work, plus, between the medical district and us, there are no primary care physicians. It's a great opportunity for us to serve people who live and work downtown."

A key component of this family practice model is centered on user-friendly services, which include same-day scheduling, limited waiting at appointments (most patients are seen within five minutes of scheduled time) electronic medical records and healthcare assessments from care providers. Soon, the facility will have virtual office visit capabilities.

"We wanted to include a high level of customer service," explained Ford. "We like to think we have more options for people. If your back is hurting, we can prescribe anti-inflammatory medication, we can send you next door with a workout regimen and refer you to a massage therapist."

Retired cardiologist and member of the advisory board Art Sutherland explained the necessity for physicians to find more effective ways of adding prevention into their practice and that a setup such as Harbor of Health is an innovative way to achieve it.

"We're not reimbursed for prevention so we're looking at more community ways to do it," he said. "(Obesity) is a preventable problem. If it's not prevented, we'll reach a tipping point of people developing degenerative diseases at an early age. That [influx] of patients will disrupt the system which ultimately affects the quality of healthcare delivery."

Added Morris: "It's all about the patients, not the physicians. We look at the way life is well lived and not just about the cause of disease. The (Harbor of Health) advisory committee brought together the best minds in Memphis to integrate prevention in to primary care, not (focused on) taking care of when sick, but keeping people healthy."

Harbor of Health has two providers, Dr. Susan Nelson and nurse practitioner Melody Breeden. Nelson was offered the medical director position by Morris and she saw it as an opportunity to be part of a practice focused more holistically on patients. People can become members of the Harbor of Health program, which entitles them to unlimited access to the fitness center and provides them with a care manager to help patients identify and reach their health goals. Patients can also choose to use their complimentary therapy and fitness services a la carte. No one has to be a member to receive medical care.

Harbor of Health even partners with Miss Cordelia's Grocery Store across the street to give various meals the Harbor of Health stamp of approval. Patients can get a checkup, work out next door and pick up a healthy meal, all within a few feet of each other.

Morris said it's important for the community to understand Harbor of Health was developed to create a better model for healthcare delivery, which will be shared with the community. It is not competitive with other practices.

"The underlying theme is – build a better mousetrap," Ford said. "Let's do this better, try to make improvements and if we find ways to do this better, we'll share the information freely with the community."

As healthcare shifts to a patient-friendly model and physicians take an active role in preventive care, the ultimate goal is to help people become healthier and live longer, avoiding obesity and the chronic diseases that plague the community.



January 2007

Tags:

None