Collaboration is necessary for a strong public health system. St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD), located in Leonardtown, MD, is setting an inspiring example for other health departments to follow through its latest endeavor – the Health Hub.

At its core, the Health Hub aims to dismantle barriers that often hinder access to critical health services. The Health Hub is a facility owned by SMCHD that emerged in response to the pandemic that provides mediation, conflict management education, COVID-19 testing, crisis counseling, employment services, and more.

Around the country health departments were using parking lots to offer vaccines to the community during the pandemic. SMCHD Health Officer, Dr. Meena Brewster said the department found themselves utilizing mall parking lots but were eventually asked to leave because of the increase of traffic from the lines. Without a designated location, residents wouldn’t have access to vaccines and other important resources.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, SMCHD sought a facility that could be easily reached by foot or bike as many in the county lack access to cars.

“Health equity is the foundation of public health,” said Brewster.

SMCHD found the perfect location – an old PNC Bank that had been closed for a few years. The health department pitched to PNC to repurpose the building for the Health Hub. PNC accepted and donated its $1.5 million dollar property to make a permanent site available for community, crisis walk-in service, and total health and wellness.

To further expand the mission of the Health Hub, SMCHD partnered with WellCheck, a technology provider specializing in health and safety solutions, to create a virtual Health Hub. SMCHD needed a unifying platform that coordinated all its work with a focus on maintaining engagement across partners and communities.

Tech partner from WellCheck Chris Nickerson, said the virtual Health Hub serves as a comprehensive platform for community partners to connect, share resources, and address critical needs.

“More people today have access to smart phones, why not utilize that?” asked Nickerson.

The registration portion of the portal launched in November 2022 with features being added to the platform throughout 2023. The portal is live and can be accessed through a web link. It is a web-based application that doesn’t require you to download anything.

One of the most significant advantages of the portal lies in its data-driven capabilities. By centralizing health records and streamlining communication between health departments, it eliminates the risk of individuals getting lost within the system. The platform also enables a deeper understanding of community challenges through self-assessment. In turn, this will hopefully drive awareness for providers and the individuals themselves.

With the help of WellCheck, the portal will have a streamlined digital closed-loop referral feature that instantly connects community members to local services providers, both clinical and non-clinical, throughout the jurisdiction. The portal will provide a current listing of all available community programs and has a scheduling component that enables providers with a way to reserve a spot for the community member. The system, with community members consent, will also send a confirmation to the referring provider when the service has been completed.

There will also be options to provide feedback.

The portal also supports community partners. For example, the platform will allow food pantries to put out a notice if they are low or have an excess of certain food items, or if they need volunteers. The virtual Health Hub will also help address the issue of underutilization of programs. Health departments and community partners offer an array of programs that promotes community health, but the community aren’t always aware of them. This may cause programs to lose, increasing the need in the community due to the lack of resources.

This pioneering partnership between SMCHD and WellCheck serves as a blueprint for a collaborative approach to public health that leverages the strengths of both public and private sectors. As technology becomes increasingly intertwined with our daily lives, initiatives like the Health Hub demonstrates the benefit of technology and public health working together.

The Health Hub represents a remarkable fusion of community partnership and data-driven innovation. From its physical location to a virtual platform that bridges gaps in service provision, the Health Hub embodies a comprehensive approach to public health.

“We have to keep demonstrating the value of public health in a tangible way,” said Brewster.