Institute for H.O.P.E.™
A catalyst of change for our health, neighborhoods, economy and future.
Contact us: [email protected]
Greater Cleveland has some of the best health care institutions in the world. Yet it also has some of the worst health outcomes across its population. Across two local ZIP codes, just five miles apart, residents have a 23-year difference in their life expectancy. How can such troubling differences in health and well-being be happening here, in one of North America’s meccas of medical care?
It’s because of a simple reality: While quality medical care is essential, it’s not nearly enough.
Experts believe that roughly 80% of a person’s health depends on factors beyond medical care: where you live, what’s going on around you, your socioeconomic status, your education level, your habits. These factors are often called the “social determinants of health.” They include access to:
These factors disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of our community. Greater Cleveland’s overall health – the fabric of our community, our quality of life, culture, economy, our future – depends on the health of our residents. We have a personal and collective responsibility to address these disparities and improve health outcomes for all of us.
Improving the health of the community is the core of MetroHealth’s mission. Part of that means continuing to deliver excellent medical care across the continuum of care – primary care, specialty medical and surgical care, hospital care and, when needed, life-saving interventions – all empowered by the latest technology and enhanced by our expertise in population health, managed care and quality improvement.
But we must also expand the reach of our care. We need to see the full picture of our patients and their lives, beyond our walls, so we can identify and help eliminate potential barriers to their health and well-being. We must find and fix the root causes of health disparities in our region.
That’s why MetroHealth's Population Health Innovation Institute created and launched the Institute for H.O.P.E.™, to help improve health through opportunity, partnership and empowerment.
Improved Health through Opportunity, Partnership, and Empowerment
Health
Improve the health of populations by leading efforts to address social and economic influences.
Opportunities
Identify and promote opportunities for change in practice, learning and policy.
Partnerships
Convene and leverage partnerships to make the greatest impact for individuals, neighborhoods and communities.
Empowerment
Co-create a self-sustaining community where everyone is empowered to live their healthiest life.
Healthy families and thriving communities – We will screen patients for social determinants of health and intervene when needed. We will create, improve and align programs to combat health disparities. And we will enrich community partnerships with entities on the front lines of community health and well-being.
Transformative knowledge and education – We will work to educate and train members of our community, transforming their lives and the lives of their families.
Innovative practices – Through research and evaluation, we will optimize the effort and create a template to spread H.O.P.E. to other communities.
Through those efforts we have been able to:
- Distribute 7,000 pounds of fresh produce monthly and refer nearly 400 patients directly to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank through an on-line referral portal.
- Transport 1,100 patients per week to appointments via our MetroHealth van fleet and another 1,000 patients monthly via Lyft and taxi rides.
- Provide over 2,400 medical visits annually at 13 Cleveland Metropolitan School District schools through our School Health Program, resulting in improved academic and health care outcomes.
- Involve over 100 people in the Open Table initiative using their social capital to transform a life.
- Work with Latino and Hispanic congregations to recreate traditional recipes into healthier versions via The VIDA! Program.
- Connect area residents in need of assistance with organizations including the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Goodwill Industries, CHN Housing Partners, Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Providence House and MetroHealth’s Trauma Recovery Center at MetroHealth's Buckeye Health Center.
- Provide training and education to residents of the Clark-Fulton neighborhood through the future Economic Opportunity Center, in partnership with Cuyahoga County Community College and Digital C.
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