TOPEKA, Kan.—The Kansas Department of Health and Environment last week began a series of regional listening sessions with service providers to discuss the joint role of public heath and primary care in improving health outcomes. The series is titled “Impacting Population Health: A Statewide Conversation.”

Robert Moser, M.D., KDHE Secretary and State Health Officer, will deliver remarks at each meeting, highlight successful partnerships and initiate discussion around the opportunities for public health and primary care. A stop in Salina is scheduled for July 16th from 5:00pm to 8:30pm. Location has not yet been announced.

“The objective of these meetings is to start or advance a conversation that helps identify barriers and opportunities for collaboration among provider groups in our public health and primary care sectors. Already, many Kansas communities have identified innovative strategies for collaboration, and these efforts are improving the quality of life for Kansans,” said Dr. Moser. “These conversations are essential in the work to improve population health.”

Examples of public health and primary care integration include facility-use agreements and sharing responsibility of community wellness programs.

“Just as it’s critical to have community-level resources to help care for our sick and injured Kansans, it’s important that we bring together hospital administrators, local public health officials, mental health providers, private doctor’s offices and safety net clinics to look at ways we can prevent illness and injury,” said Dr. Moser.