Local Health Improvement Coalitions

By Caroline Morton

Local Health Improvement Coalitions (LHICs) are community groups that work together to address public health priorities. There are 20 county-level LHICs across Maryland, with 19 representing individual counties and one representing the Mid-Shore counties, including Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot.

LHICs are often led by local health departments and hospital systems but may also be implemented as 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Each LHIC is required by the state of Maryland to identify, prioritize, and address local health needs to create Local Health Improvement Plans (LHIPs) aligned with the Maryland State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP).

The SHIP establishes priorities, strategies, and targets for improving community health based on the greatest areas of need identified in the State Health Assessment (SHA), a compilation of primary and secondary data that provides a comprehensive picture of the current state of Maryland’s health. Maryland’s most recent SHIP identified five priority health areas including:

• Chronic Disease

• Access to Care

• Women’s Health

• Violence

• Behavioral Health

Each LHIC chooses priority areas that address both local and state health priority issues.

LHIC Structure

Each Maryland LHIC has its own governance structure. They are often co-chaired by the local health department and hospital or other community organization representative. LHIC members include representatives from community organizations, local businesses, and county governments as well as health care providers and community members interested in advancing public health in their jurisdiction. They may meet quarterly or just once or twice a year.

Workgroups are typically formed to address the LHIC’s priority areas. They may meet more often to plan and implement initiatives related to health priorities.

A majority of LHICs are funded primarily through in-kind services and volunteer staff time. However, some LHICs do have dedicated full-time or part-time staff members who are part of the local health department.

LHIC Activities

LHICs foster a wide range of collaborative initiatives to address local health needs. Examples include:

• Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition (HCLHIC) created the Howard County Food Council funded by a three-year grant from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in effort to work with communities to address diabetes.

• Garrett County Health Planning Council created the 360 Access Hub as a way to build out the food system networks to improve access to fresh local food and reduce food insecurity

• Healthy Montgomery created the Community and Population Health Data Dashboard which provides a one-stop resource for online access to community health indicators, promising practices, funding opportunities and resources that impact the health of the community.

• Healthy Washington County created a community-wide initiative Go For Bold aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles for the residents of Washington County. With a goal of losing 1 million community pounds by 2030, this 10-year program focuses on increasing physical activity through fun and engaging community-wide events, incorporating mindfulness and stress reduction techniques into daily activities, and promoting fresh fruits and vegetables

• Wicomico County Local Health Improvement Coalition Promoted and expanded walking initiatives with 3 walking groups established and 482 participants in walking events.
  
  

Information on Individual LHICs

Most LHICs have their own websites with information on priorities, goals, resources, events, meeting materials, contact information, and more. Many LHICs also publish a free newsletter that provides subscribers with news and updates from their community.

Visit the Local Health Improvement Coalitions (LHICs) in Maryland for more information on each LHIC.

Why Would a Physician Want to Join an LHIC?

Physicians have a lot to offer to LHICs because they have the unique ability to connect clinical insights with community-level needs. In working with individual patients, health care providers see first hand how addressing social determinants such as housing, food insecurity, and transportation can significantly influence patient outcomes. They have the opportunity to connect patients to resources and programs to ensure that care extends beyond the clinical setting.

By collaborating with hospitals, public health leaders, community organizations, and local government agencies, physicians can contribute clinical insight to initiatives that address prevention, chronic disease management, mental health, and other pressing local priorities. Physician involvement in LHICs allows them to move from exclusively treating individuals to advancing wellness throughout the entire community.