Health in action: UHS Population Health team champions public well-being

Every April, the American Public Health Association (APHA) brings communities together across the United States to observe National Public Health Week. It is a time to recognize the contributions of public health and raise awareness of important issues that improve our communities’ overall well-being on a local, state and national level. As a dedicated healthcare provider in Greater Binghamton, UHS proudly supports this mission by promoting initiatives that foster healthier communities.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of National Public Health Week. As the organizer, APHA develops annual campaigns and provides resources to educate the public, policymakers and practitioners on important issues pertaining to public health. Some of this year’s priority areas and themes include climate action, health equity, advocacy and strengthening the public health workforce.

What is public health?

Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of communities through organized efforts and informed choices, giving everyone a safe place to live, learn, work and play. Every day, public health professionals are working, often behind the scenes, to keep people healthy. They are responsible for tracking disease outbreaks and helping communities curb the spread of disease, setting safety standards to protect workers, developing school nutrition programs to ensure children have access to healthy food, and so much more.

While healthcare treats those who are already sick or injured, public health aims to help prevent people from getting sick or injured in the first place. Public health isn’t about treating any one individual but entire populations – it’s for you, your family, your friends and everyone in your community.

UHS works in tandem with public health considerations to uplift the people we serve. Beyond providing the best clinical care, UHS’ commitment to public health prioritizes patient well-being at every level, ensuring everyone is given the opportunity to thrive. For one team in particular, going above and beyond to support the patients most in need is at the center of everything they do.

Meet the UHS Population Health team

The UHS Population Health team focuses on meeting patients where they are and assisting with what they need most. To achieve this mission, the Population Health team runs a variety of innovative programs to meet the needs of patients. This includes assisting patients with housing issues, food insecurity, transportation needs or any other non-clinical care they may need to feel safe and secure.

“The care coordination from the Population Health team is all about making sure we are caring for our patients and providing them what they need most,” said Annie DePugh, director of Population Health Management at UHS. “We want to make sure the UHS Values are lived out every day with the care we provide.”

With the demand for these essential services growing, the Population Health team has worked to introduce new initiatives. For example, the team now operates an in-house food pantry to address food insecurity and provide meals for patients in need. In support of this mission, the team has also cultivated strong relationships with local organizations, like CHOW and the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, who work to fight food insecurity in our community.

The Population Health team also works to secure necessary funds to help patients pay for any housing needs, including rent, security deposits or housing projects. Recently, the team helped a local UHS patient secure a necessary grant to renovate the roof of her home. The roof was beyond repair, so the team leaped into action to complete the paperwork needed for her to receive necessary maintenance on her home.

“Every day, we see how needing basic things like food and housing can leave a lasting impact on a patient’s overall health,” said Ms. DePugh. “Our team works to make sure we can provide them with those building blocks and let them live a healthier life.”

The Population Health team embodies our UHS values of compassion, trust, respect, teamwork and innovation, continuing to go the extra mile to care for patients. The remarkable collaboration between clinical and non-clinical staff ensures our community can feel happy and healthy in all aspects of life.

If you or someone you know is struggling with food insecurity, housing issues or other challenges, please let your healthcare provider know at your next appointment. For more information or to schedule an appointment with a UHS primary care provider, click here. UHS also publishes a Community Impact Report that details UHS’ commitment to fostering a vibrant and healthy community throughout the year, which can be found here. Together, we can ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.