Committee Descriptions

The work of the Capital Area Health Alliance is carried on through the deciated citizens who serve on its committees.

Access to Health Care Committee

The Access to Health Care Committee engages the community in an ongoing process of analyzing health data and developing health resources to improve health care access and the health status for uninsured people.  In 2001, the Access Committee published an Action Plan for an Organized System of Care for the Capital Area, updated in 2002 with the publication of Community Briefing 2002, and updated again in September 2004 with the promulgation of the Access to Healthcare Committee’s Community Briefing 2004, whose plans are the product of years of interviews, learning sessions, focus groups and validation by several hundred residents of the Greater Lansing area.  The Action Plan addressed five key areas: Zero Disparity, Outreach, oral Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

Oral Health Task Force

Made up of dentists, government officials, hygienists, educators, administrators and social workers, the Oral Health Task Force (OHTF) specifically addresses the dental needs of under-served Capital Area populations.  The OHTF has been responsible for procuring grants that have resulted in the creation of the Healthy Smiles dental Clinic and the coordination of volunteer dental professionals to provide patient care for hundreds of patients who lack access to care.  The OHTF has also been creating programs to reduce baby bottle mouth by working with Head Start families.  The OHTF is a subcommittee of the Access Committee.

The Performance Improvement Committee

The Performance Improvement Committee (PIC) focuses on analyzing data related to the quality of health care in the Capital Area and addressing issue areas highlighted by that analysis.  Meeting regularly, PIC members include physicians, nurses, insurance executives and health care administrators.  The Advanced Care Planning Coalition and Pharmaceutical Subcommittee report to the PIC.

Advanced Care Planning Coalition

To improve health care delivery to people through all stages of life, with emphasis on respecting their end-of-life health care choices, representatives of Ingham Regional Medical Center, Michigan State University and Sparrow Health System meet regularly to develop Capital Area uniform policy, documents and training to ensure an individual’s medical wishes for treatment are known and honored.   The Advanced Care Coalition is a subcommittee of the PIC.

Pharmaceutical Subcommittee

The Pharmaceutical Subcommittee works to improve the quality, availability and cost effectiveness of pharmaceuticals for Tri-County Area residents.  Meeting routinely, the group reviews information and makes recommendations regarding implementation of specific initiatives designed to enhance pharmaceutical use.  For instance, the Antibiotic Misuse Campaign, which resulted in a demonstrable decline in inappropriate antibiotic use, was designed by this group.  Subcommittee recommendations are forwarded to the PIC for approval. 

Healthy Lifestyles Committee

The goal of this committee is to promote healthy behaviors and thereby avoid illness.  This committee also works to connect Capital Area lifestyle coalitions dealing with nutrition, fitness, substance abuse and tobacco,  The Healthy Lifestyles Committee is developing an obesity initiative called “Move More—Eat Less” in cooperation with CAHA’s PIC.  Healthy Lifestyles is also working to reach out to area businesses to promote healthy lifestyles through the work environment and thus foster cost savings. 

Capital Area Community Nursing Network

Advising CAHA’s Board of Directors on topics related to nursing issues and nursing care, this committee provides perspective on current nursing topics from clinical nurse training through scope of practice issues and workforce shortages.  Meeting monthly, committee membership includes nursing executives from two local health systems, the Schools of Nursing at Lansing Community College and Michigan State University and other representatives of nursing professionals throughout the Capital Area. 

Resource Development Committee

The purpose of this committee is to work with CAHA to diversity the funding opportunities to support public and professional educational events, quality improvement projects, publication of local health data and development of programs to address unmet community needs.  This committee will support ongoing goals and monitor new opportunities.