Regional accountability in health care sounds good, and Warren General Hospital is ready to do its part.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced this week that he was launching a program of Regional Accountable Health Councils (RAHC).

According to Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller, the RAHCs “will lead efforts to address social determinants of health, reduce health disparities, and promote equity and value in health care. The RAHCs continue Governor Wolf’s plan to bring about comprehensive reforms and, most importantly, better health and well-being for all Pennsylvanians.”

“Warren General Hospital fully supports programs and actions that address social determinants of health and equity in healthcare access and delivery,” CEO Rick Allen said.

“Further, we understand Warren County needs to more comprehensively serve those residents afflicted by issues such as mental illness , obesity, cardiopulmonary disease and daily access to basics such as food and shelter.”

“This effort is a partnership between the Wolf Administration, Medicaid managed care organizations, hospitals and health systems, and community-based health and social service providers and organizations,” Miller said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare both the opportunity and obligation for us at the state level to do work necessary to bring about change and make a positive difference for these communities and start to rectify generations of inequities. Inequity in health is not something any one organization can eliminate by themselves. Providers must collaborate across medical disciplines and alongside social service providers to meet the complex needs of their shared patients and the broader communities they serve.”

“The RAHCs will provide opportunities for strategic health planning across the health care system and better collaboration between health care providers and social service organizations with the goal to develop strategies and partnerships addressing health needs and disparities in their communities,” Miller said. “Five RAHCs were established to reach Southeast, Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, and the Lehigh/Capitol regions of Pennsylvania.”

“We would welcome participation on a regional committee such as the RAHC,” Allen said. “We will monitor the committees activity and support actions benefiting the at-risk members of our community.”