WHEREAS, the Department of Public Health's 1996 restructuring process established the Community Health Network of San Francisco as its integrated delivery system; and,

WHEREAS, the licensed components of the Community Health Network are required to have a strategic plan; and,

WHEREAS, in the Fall of 1998, the Executive Administrator of the Community Health Network established a broad based Planning Committee to recommend strategic objectives for the governing body's approval; and,

WHEREAS, the planning analysis identified key populations and communities served by the Community Health Network with 65% of the patients living in low-income areas; 70% ethnic minorities; 9% of the patients homeless, making up 24% of emergency visits and acute days; and,

WHEREAS, the model of care to meet the needs of the Community Health Network's patients is based on a strong link between the patient and primary care provider, and a system-wide care management approach augmented with psychosocial and enabling services that is focused, when appropriate, in transitioning patients from institutional care to community based services; and,

WHEREAS, the Community Health Network plays an important role as the City's safety net and can best serve its patients and community by strengthening its delivery components, emphasizing the most appropriate level of care, and working in collaboration with the Public Health and Prevention Division to identify and address community health issues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Community Health Network maintain five long term priorities as the foundation to carry out its role as the Department of Public Health's delivery arm.  Priorities include: 1) The Community Health Network's care delivery in the context of the Public Health Mission to provide quality, comprehensive, culturally-proficient health services, 2) Customer service, 3) Integration, 4) Cost-effective care, and 5) Compliance with licensure and regulatory requirements, and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Community Health Network also must develop annual operational strategies to successfully implement the priorities.  The first operational strategy for year one, focuses on the patient: building a seamless system of care with an identified primary care provider for each patient, and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Community Health Network's second operational strategy is to improve access and services for targeted communities by working in collaboration with Population Health and Prevention and, when appropriate, transition patients from institutions to community based care; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Community Health Network's third operational strategy recognizes that to maintain this system of care, attention and investments must be made in supporting the infrastructure, which includes not only facility maintenance but staff training, communication and decision support; and that this is done in collaboration with UCSF, labor and community partners; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Community Health Network's fourth strategy recognizes the shortfall of third party revenue sources needed to cover the costs of maintaining the existing delivery system and proposes exploring methods for investing in the infrastructure in order to maintain a viable safety net; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Health Commission accepts and approves the Community Health Network's strategic plan for 1999.

I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Health Commission at its meeting of Tuesday, January 19, 1999.

Sandy Ouye Mori, Executive Secretary to the Health Commission