Community-Clinical Linkages
Creating Links Between Community Organization and Clinical Services
Community-clinical linkages are connections between community and clinical sectors that work together to improve population health and support chronic disease prevention and control. Community-clinical linkages help to ensure that residents with or at high risk of chronic diseases have access to the resources they need to prevent and manage their chronic conditions.
Well-Ahead Louisiana aims to improve access to clinical preventive services (such as screening and counseling), community-level activities, and healthcare treatment to reduce and prevent chronic disease for our Louisiana residents. Community-clinical linkages connect clinical providers, community organizations, and public health agencies. We work specifically with the healthcare providers and community organizations to connect community members to the community resources they need. Where the resources do not exist, we work to establish them!
When put into action properly, community-clinical linkages include:
- Coordinating healthcare delivery to encourage healthy behaviors
- Promoting patient, family, and community involvement in improvement activities
- Establishing relationships among clinical, community, and public health organizations
Community Health Workers
Community health workers serve as a link between community and healthcare systems. They work to provide access to services and resources for the communities they serve.
Community-Based Blood Pressure Monitoring Programs
Community-based blood pressure monitoring (BMP) programs work to meet residents where they are—at the local barbershop, their workplace, or the grocery store. Community-based BMP programs can identify residents that are at risk for high blood pressure and need medical care.
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
Participating in a Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) program can help your patients living with diabetes manage their conditions. DSMES is a cost-effective tool proven to help improve the health behaviors and outcomes of residents living with diabetes.
Louisiana Seals Smiles
The Louisiana Seals Smiles is a school-based program that provides free oral health screenings and dental sealants for eligible young children and adolescents to prevent tooth decay.
Medication Therapy Management
Medication Therapy Management is a patient-centered and collaborative set of services that focus on improving health outcomes for patients by improving collaboration among pharmacists and healthcare teams.
National Diabetes Prevention Programs
Prediabetes can often be reversed when your patients at-risk for diabetes join a National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP). The National DPP is an evidence-based and cost-effective program that helps prevent type 2 diabetes through healthy eating and physical activity.