EQuIP-LA 2024 Annual Convening: Fostering Community & Sustaining Change Together
On June 11, 2024, the Equity and Quality at Independent Practices in LA County (EQuIP-LA) 2024 Annual Convening took place, bringing together our four participating organizations — Allied Pacific IPA, Angeles IPA, L.A. Care Health Plan and Omnicare Medical Group — along with program and community partners and staff for a day of insightful discussions, collaborative activities and innovative thinking aimed at enhancing health care quality and sustainability. The event was a testament to the power of community and collective effort in driving meaningful change in health care delivery.
Key themes and takeaways from the convening included:
- Commitment to community and inclusivity. The day began with poignant welcoming remarks that set the tone for the convening. Attendees were reminded of the importance of recognizing the land we occupy, paying respect to the ancestors past, present and future — an acknowledgment that underscored the convening’s commitment to inclusivity and respect for all communities.
- Community building. Attendees engaged in a community-building activity, sharing words of wisdom through visual art and spoken word. This exercise fostered a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose, which highlighted the importance of community in driving health care innovation.
- Harnessing data for sustainable health care. A significant focus of the convening was on the role of data in achieving sustainable health care. Attendees explored tools and methodologies for forecasting measure performance, emphasizing how data can be leveraged to track improvements and support long-term health care goals. This session reinforced the critical role of data in informing and guiding health care practices.
- Addressing social drivers of health. Engaging patients to address social drivers of health (SDOH) was another central theme. Through powerful storytelling and interactive activities, those in attendance gained a deeper understanding of how SDOH contribute to health inequities. The 5 A’s framework —Awareness, Adjustment, Assistance, Alignment and Advocacy — was introduced as a guide for integrating social care activities into health care delivery, demonstrating the profound impact of addressing social needs on patient health outcomes.
- Leveraging CalAIM for comprehensive care. Presentations from Health Net, LA Care Direct Network and El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center highlighted the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) program’s potential to address social needs through Enhanced Care Management (ECM). The pivotal role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) was emphasized, showcasing how CHWs bridge health care systems and community resources, thereby enhancing patient engagement and satisfaction through culturally competent care.
Innovation in Action: Change Idea Contest
The convening culminated in a change idea contest in which the four EQuIP-LA participating organizations pitched innovative ideas to improve health care delivery. The winning idea, presented by L.A. Care in partnership with Dr. Mallu Reddy’s primary care practice, focused on integrating CHWs into practice workflows to address the social needs of members. Highlights of L.A. Care’s change idea include:
- Utilizing existing staff. Training existing staff to become CHWs, leveraging their familiarity with patients and practice workflows.
- Building community connections. Establishing strong ties with local resources to ensure comprehensive support for patients.
- Patient engagement. Creating a patient advisory program to gather continuous feedback and educate patients about the CHW program.
- Dual outreach strategy. Assigning CHWs to patients during visits and conducting outreach to less frequent visitors, particularly those with chronic conditions like diabetes.
- Measuring success. Tracking various metrics, including HEDIS measures and patient feedback, to evaluate the program’s impact.
A Day of Reflection and Forward Thinking
The EQuIP-LA 2024 Annual Convening served as a day of inspiration, collaboration and forward thinking. It celebrated the collective efforts of all participants and reaffirmed a collective commitment to advancing health care quality and equity.