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Issues/Advocacy

Columbus' four healthcare systems have collaborated to address the emerging health care needs of central Ohio. The Central Ohio Hospital Council (COHC) serves as the advocate for the four hospital systems and assists them in meeting the health care needs of the central Ohio community. The following are the current projects that COHC is undertaking in 2008/2009.

Blood Supply
In the late 1990s, central Ohio hospitals began facing large price increases for blood and blood products from the American Red Cross, Central Ohio Region. As a result, the hospitals entered into discussions with the Red Cross, which lead to the formation of the Joint Committee on Local Accountability (JCOLA) with the goal of assuring a safe, effective and cost efficient blood supply for the Central Ohio region.
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Economic Impact
In November 2004, the Central Ohio hospitals publicly released an economic impact study, highlighting county-wide employment and business income figures due to the hospital's payroll and operating expenses. The report was prepared by the Ohio Hospital Association, and was covered by local media. In 2009, COHC will work to develop a similar economic impact study identifying the economic impacts that COHC-member hospitals have on the economy of the Central Ohio Region.

Health Information Exchange
Central Ohio health systems, large employers and a research group have been meeting the past year to discuss the creation of a Central Ohio Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO), with a focus on patient medications. This system will help employers monitor the use of generics by employees, help providers monitor and combat medication compliance, abuse and adverse interactions, and help patients stay abreast of medication history. COHC is serving on a steering committee to focus on expanding the use of e-Prescription in the central Ohio healthcare community.

Mental Health Services
Local entities involved in providing and funding mental health services for Franklin County residents have been meeting the past year to discuss how they can better collaborate to improve the delivery of mental health services to Franklin County citizens.
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Quality Collaborative
Since 2003, Central Ohio hospitals have participated in a quality collaborative, coordinated by the Ohio Hospital Association, to improve heart attack failure, heart attack, pneumonia care in the community. Through the Central Ohio Quality Collaborative, hospitals have demonstrated their commitment to creating an environment in which they can learn and share best practices, engage in quality-improvement projects and standardize processes which are proven to improve the quality of care for patients. A public report on the quality collaborative was released in fall of 2008. In 2009, local hospitals will expand their collaborative work to tackle stroke mortality.

Pollution Prevention
In 2009, COHC will assist Central Ohio hospitals in forming a local consortium to collaboratively address pollution prevention issues such as recycling. The consortium will allow hospitals to learn and share best practices on waste stream processing and potentially leverage resources such as potential EPA grants.

Mt. Carmel Nationwide Childrens' Hospital Ohio Health Ohio State University Medical Center



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23rd floor
Columbus, OH 43215-3609
(614) 358-2710