Just published, the Commonwealth Fund has developed an extensive profile that describes how Stockton has forged partnerships and leveraged resources to meet residents’ considerable health and health care needs. The report, Health Care Improvement in Stockton, California: Collaboration, Capacity-Building, and Medicaid Expansion, claims the Stockton region “is one of the nation’s most improved on the Commonwealth Fund’s recent Scorecard on Local Health System Performance.” Stockton’s progress is noteworthy, not only because of its socioeconomic challenges, but also in light of its significant health challenges relative to other parts of the state.
The profile explores reasons why some regions are able to improve their residents’ health and health care even with limited resources. The case study of the Stockton area highlights the following factors for contributing to improving its regional health system performances:
- Supportive state and local policies lay the groundwork for local improvement.
- A community-oriented Medicaid health plan can facilitate efforts to improve quality and coordinate care.
- Coalition-building efforts can generate momentum for change.
“San Joaquin County Public Health Services is pleased to have contributed to this study and to be a part of the many collaborative efforts highlighted in this report,” states Tammy Evans, Director, San Joaquin County Public Health Services. Examples of the joint efforts include the Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan, the Healthier Communities Coalition, Baby-Friendly designations for local hospitals, the Black Infant Health Program, coordination with schools for flu vaccine administration, and working with the University of California Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Commissioner to get healthy food options into local schools, stores and bodegas.