GION
of the
needs of the community
See the whole assessment
and Jackson’s complete plan
at
.
COMMUNITY
achieve long-term success in improving
outcomes for stroke patients. Jackson
Hospital distributes stroke awareness
cards through area Walgreens locations
and provides public education throughout
the year.We are also increasing health
fair involvement and community health
screenings through our WellnessWorks
program and are implementing a low-cost
heart and stroke screening program for
individuals at risk.
2
Diabetes
• The diabetes mortality rate in Mont-
gomery is substantially higher than the
state and national rates.
• Diabetes-related conditions account
for 12.8 percent of all visits to The
Jackson Clinic.
• Adults in the Montgomery region are
more likely to report diagnosed diabetes
than adults in the rest of the U.S.
How we are helping
Jackson Hospital offers free weekly
diabetes education courses. We have also
added another endocrinology specialist,
A. Bahadir Ergin, MD, who joined The
Jackson Clinic in July. This will help
meet the high demand for these services.
3
Access
to healthcare
• The lack of physicians accepting Med-
icaid and Medicare patients is a serious
health concern.
• The aging physician population was a
major concern for the community.
• A lack of access to prevention and
screening resources was a concern.
How we are helping
• Health Services, Inc., received a grant
through the Health Resources and
Services Administration to provide
outreach and enrollment services for
uninsured individuals for the Affordable
Insurance Marketplace. The organiza-
tion plans to work with area hospitals,
including Jackson Hospital, to increase
access and awareness of this service.
• Jackson Hospital has recruited more
than a dozen new physicians to the
area over the past 18 months.
4
Mental
health
• Suicide is the eighth leading cause of
death in Autauga, with a rate substan-
tially higher than that of Alabama and
the United States.
• The lack of resources and services for
these patients was a concern.
• Reducing stigma and raising commu-
nity awareness was a priority.
How we are helping
• Jackson Hospital will start an initiative
for depression screening at intake in ki-
osks through care coordination services.
• We are also partnering with local
providers to provide public education
about mental health issues and the
community resources available.
5
Obesity
Obesity was a major concern. Poor nu-
tritional habits and lack of exercise were
discussed as the primary causes.
How we are helping
• Jackson Hospital dietitians offer
nutritional counseling at health fairs
and community events. They focus on
healthy eating for weight and disease
management.
• Jackson Hospital has also partnered
with EAT South to offer education
about healthy eating and sustainable
food production through community
health fairs.
• Jackson is a founding member of the
Montgomery Area Community Well-
ness Coalition. The coalition hosts
seminars and presentations for health
professionals in the community, dis-
cussing chronic disease and risk factors.
• Jackson Hospital is striving to increase
the number of employees at a healthy
weight by creating an employee well-
ness committee.
• The hospital encourages participation
in the Scale Back Alabama initiative
and has recently added signs for an
indoor walking path. The hospital
cafeteria offers barcodes so people din-
ing can use their smartphones to scan
and determine the nutritional value of
foods they are eating.
6
Sexually transmitted
infections
In Montgomery, chlamydia, gonorrhea,
syphilis, HIV and AIDS incidence rates are
all substantially higher than in Alabama.
How we are helping
Jackson Hospital was the host site for a
regional infectious disease conference in
April 2014. The collaborative effort with
the Alabama Department of Health and
the Medical AIDS Outreach Program
provided information about sexually
transmitted infections.
13
