Community Health Improvement

CentraCare is dedicated to improving the health of the communities we serve. In order to address population health needs, CentraCare is committed to cultivating partnerships with a broad spectrum of local organizations to assess and plan around the changing needs of our communities. To do this work well, we focus on:

• addressing gaps in health and care
• increasing access and connection to care
• developing strategic partnerships to better serve our patients
• modifying care delivery to achieve equitable outcomes and reduce health disparities

80% of what drives health outcomes happens outside hospital and clinic walls.

Our Community Health Improvement team is a key driver in meeting CentraCare’s population health goals and is a large pillar of support to our entire health system and to the communities we serve across Greater Minnesota.

Community Health Improvement works to improve access to care and creates community connections to address social determinants of health and improve health outcomes and serve as the bridge from clinic to community to meet patients where they are at.

How to Partner with Us

Our team collaborates with various community partners and connects members of the community to helpful resources focused on health education, access to quality care and tools for disease prevention.

Please connect with our team at communityhealthimprovement@centracare.com to request onsite care support, train the trainer sessions, education materials or education classes across the following areas of focus.

Our Areas of Focus

Mental Health & Well Being

Supporting the link between healthy minds and healthy bodies through continued awareness, education and tools for people of all ages to overcome trauma, build resiliency and strengthen social connectedness.

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
• Trauma Informed Care
• Bounce Back Project
• Resiliency

Health Promotion & Education

Empowering people to take control over their health by increasing awareness of health and wellness issues, providing health education, promoting healthy behaviors and advocating for wellness for all in the community.

• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Health Equity
• Health Care Navigation

Disease Prevention

Improving health outcomes with access to preventive services and primary care.

Mobile Clinic

We understand that with social determinants of health, systemic and structural racism, and other complex social barriers, at times our community needs us to provide them a safe space to build relationships and trust with our health care system. Our mobile clinic will come to your community members to offer:

• Connections to Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) Resources
• Health Screenings
• Access to Care
• Preventive Screenings

Pre- and Post-natal Care Access

• Immunizations
  - Flu
  - COVID-19
  - Childhood and Adult Routine Immunizations
• Onsite Screenings
  - Diabetes
  - Colorectal
  - Hypertension
  - Vision

“Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization (CAIRO) and CentraCare - Community Health Improvement have partnered to create amazing chronic health seminars, where individuals with Somali and Spanish backgrounds can learn about specific health conditions that have an impact on their communities. These courses differ from others since it is entirely taught in each community's respective native tongue by medical professionals who can respond immediately to any questions the students may have. There is a saying that the first stage in any process is awareness. That is exactly what these classes are providing to participants: awareness of their health and any condition that might affect them.” - Saharla Diriye, Community Health Worker, CAIRO