Central Ohio Hospital Council

Supported sudden infant mortality reduction initiatives in coordination with celebrateone by implementing strategies around low-birth weight babies, educating parents on safe sleep practices, breastfeeding, and tobacco, and drug cessation. Assisted hospitals with educating parents on the city's tobacco cessation initiative, whereby post-partum women are screened for tobacco use and referred to tobacco free families. In 2022, 256 pregnant women were referred to the columbus public health for tobacco cessation counseling. Distribute monthly referral data to birthing units and hold quarterly improvement check-in calls. Assisted hospitals in ensuring that pregnant women at risk of delivering a very low birth weight infants deliver at facilities with higher volumes. Assisted hospitals with implementing an initiative to universally test women who deliver a baby for use of opiates and other drugs. Coordinate with adamh and franklin county children's services to develop consistent patient education materials for parents and a streamlined system to refer women to treatment and to fccs. In 2022, 93% of parents reported, prior to discharge, viewing an educational video on safe sleep, breastfeeding, and in-home tobacco use. Assessed if pregnant women have legal issues, such as evictions, safe housing, and access to benefits that can affect healthy outcomes, and referred them to columbus legal aid society. In 2022, franklin county hospitals referred 425 pregnant women to the legal aid society.

Educating and assisting hospitals in monitoring and reducing the levels of opiates prescribed for a variety of procedures, including cesarean sections and gastrointestinal surgeries. Work with community stakeholders to provide overdose education and prevention programs. Work with hospitals to ensure that emergency department patients with an overdose are provided a narcan kit, along with instructions on administering narcan and translating the instructions into languages seen in the community.

Using various media platforms to establish thought leadership to educate the community about behavioral health, opiate addiction and other wellness issues. Implement new communications strategies to better educate and build awareness in the community of hospitals' collaborative work through cohc. Create covid public service announcements for media and print in collaboration with ohiohealth to educate the public about covid prevention measures, including masking and vaccinations.

Developed business plans for a franklin county psychiatric crisis center that meets current and future needs of hospitals, patients and the community. Worked with inpatient psychiatric providers to monitor compliance with bedboard protocols designed to ensure equitable distribution of services. Provided education that resulted in the reduction of the number of behavioral health patients seeking psychiatric care in local emergency departments from a high of 1,447 in 2018 to 690 in 2022. In addition, the average length of stay for behavioral health patients in the emergency department has dropped 77% since march 2017. Assisted hospitals in identifying translation and language needs in Central Ohio and developing translated materials to meet local needs in conjunction with federal grants. Provided 3,500 free resources through www.healthinfotranslation.org to help patients access healthcare related information in 19 different languages. Created a community needs health assessment to provide hospitals with language and strategies to address mental health, addiction, poverty, and infant mortality issues that are inclusive and compliant with irs and Ohio guidelines for community health needs assessments. Conducted an economic impact study to articulate the value and positive economic impact of Central Ohio Hospital systems. Coordinated an event and collaborated with Central Ohio health systems to encourage their supply chain directors and it officers to utilize local minority and female business owners.