8 March - 2022IN MY OPINIONAs COVID-19 cases increase in a new and dangerous way right before our beloved time of holiday gatherings with friends and family, and "pandemic fatigue" looms large in even the most controlled communities and states across the nation, Meritus Health, a 275-bed community hospital and health system in Hagerstown, Maryland and over 40 community partners have decided to launch "Go for Bold: Do, Eat, and Believe in a Healthy Washington County!" The ultimate goal is to lose one million community pounds by 2030, and after an exciting October 6, 2020 kick-off, over 30 partners have pledged to lose and maintain the loss of close to 300,000 of those pounds to date. We pledge to do this by yearly action plans aimed at increasing activity (DO), making healthier food choices and addressing food deserts in the city of Hagerstown and surrounding Washington County (EAT), and reducing stress and addressing behavioral health needs, including addiction, to improve the mental health of all citizens (BELIEVE). Why is this campaign so important at this critical time in the life of our community? It is because addressing the population health needs and social determinant drivers of health care concerns have never been so important as in this time of state and national pandemic crisis. Knowing that 80 percent of health outcomes are driven by the social determinants of health, we must fully engage patients in determining their risk based on loneliness, housing, and income stability, healthy food and nutrition access, transportation, and any existing chronic health comorbidities. Using our electronic health records helps us to identify these risks for those who can reach us in our clinics, but more importantly, we have learned that we must reach those who cannot get to us. Rapid deployment of telehealth and virtual visits in this time of the COVID pandemic (two weeks in our case for what was going to take at least a year) must continue after the pandemic returns to safer and more manageable levels. Indeed, public and population health infrastructure must be reestablished before any future pandemics or natural disasters come our way. Health inequity Lose a million pounds by 2030-Go for Bold in a time of pandemic and beyond!By Douglas A. Spotts, Vice President and Chief Health Officer, Meritus HealthRapid deployment of telehealth and virtual visits in this time of the COVID pandemic (two weeks in our case for what was going to take at least a year) must continue after the pandemic returns to safer and more manageable levels
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