Overview
The Bower Foundation supports public health programs committed to improving the lives of Mississippians. The Foundation provides funding to the Mississippi Department of Health and has worked with the Mississippi Public Health Association. Both organizations work hard to strategically and systemically improve public health outcomes in the state.
Initiatives
Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH)
With strong leadership at the helm of MSDH, The Bower Foundation has developed a meaningful and productive, long-term partnership for health in Mississippi. Below are several grants we have offered to MSDH.
Realignment and Statewide Preventive Health Efforts
Goal: To provide support for statewide operational changes that will streamline patient care and provide a medical record and billing system for health services.
How we support it:The Bower Foundation is providing grant funding to the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) for statewide employee training on the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Epic electronic health record (EHR) software system. The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) is the state’s only academic medical center and is implementing the Community Connect features of the Epic system, which will expand Epic to all Mississippi State Department of Health clinics and patients statewide. Epic will provide for patient registration and scheduling; clinical systems for doctors, nurses and other health care providers; integration with the MSDH lab system; interface with pharmacies; and a medical billing system. Mississippi State Department of Health patients will be ensured of health record continuity in the University of Mississippi Medical Center system of care. Additionally, de-identified MSDH patient data will be included in the UMMC medical data warehouse for academic research purposes.
Perinatal High Risk Management/Infant Services System
Goal: To enhance the existing Perinatal High Risk Management/Infant Services System case management program to become accredited with the Healthy Families America model.
How we support it: Bower's grant aimed to strengthen the existing case management program by using evidence-based curriculum, establishing a coordinated team, identifying two pilot districts for transition to the new model and assessing the evaluation of the pilots to implement a statewide program.
Mississippi Health Information Network (MS-HIN)
The MS-HIN was established by the 2010 Mississippi Legislature with board membership of state agencies, medical associations and insurance providers.
Goal: To allow the state to achieve a statewide and sustainable health information exchange through the meaningful use of certified electronic health records.
How we support it: The Bower Foundation provided matching funds for the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Grant.
Hospital Discharge Data System
MSDH implemented the Hospital Discharge Data System, a centralized reporting system that tracks all health services provided to Mississippians and promotes public use of this data to support overall health in the state.
Goal: Allow MSDH to respond to custom data requests; produce public data sets available for purchase; provide the analytical capability to transform the data to useful information needed for public health planning, evaluation and program development.
How we support it: The Bower Foundation provided assistance to implement the website, as well as procure the services of an epidemiologist/biostatistician.
Mississippi Public Health Association (MPHA)
MPHA is a statewide organization whose mission is to promote public and personal health in Mississippi and to promote professional development of public health workers through advocacy and education.
Goal: To increase MPHA membership and support of its mission. To increase awareness of the value and impact of public health initiatives on daily life.
Strategy: Bower's grant helped expand MPHA's membership and developed a stronger, coordinated role for advocacy for key public health policy issues. Additionally, the Foundation provided funds to implement the MPHA Communication Plan.