HJNO Jan/Feb 2023

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  JAN / FEB 2023 21 Improve Health and Well-Being across the Life Span of Louisianans LDH is committed to protecting and promoting health across the life span of all Louisianans, a mission that aligns with the World Health Or- ganization’s definition of health: “a state of complete mental, physical, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infir- mity.” We accomplish this through a holistic array of programs and ser- vices for the early detection, prevention, and treatment of chronic dis- eases; the promotion and treatment of behavioral and mental health; and comprehensive, dignified care for our older adults and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our focus will be ensuring residents receive high-quality care tailored to every stage of life. This FY23 business plan commitment includes LDH-led initiatives that will: • Improve Health Outcomes in Pregnancy and through Childhood • Improve Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment of Chronic Diseases • Increase Availability of Behavioral Health Services • Increase Access to Dental Services for Adults with Developmental Disabilities Support Vulnerable and Underserved Populations LDH’s mission of providing equitable, accessible healthcare is bolstered by continuous improvement in health systems and service delivery, from the safety of the water we drink to the safeguarding of our older adults in the event of a hurricane or other disaster. Such investments benefit all Louisianans across the life span, including our most vulnerable and underserved residents. This FY23 business plan commitment includes LDH-led initiatives that will: • Improve Systems to Support People Living with Sickle Cell Dis- ease • Increase and Strengthen Service Delivery for Vulnerable Residents • Protect the Health, Safety, and Welfare of Nursing Home Resi- dents in Louisiana • Improve the Sustainability of Public Water Systems Invest in and Empower #TeamLDH LDH cannot fulfill its mission without a qualified, motivated, and skilled workforce. Cultivating such a workforce requires continual investment in our team members as well as bolstering our team with new talent. Building on the momentum of the FY22 business plan, LDH will con- tinue pursuing programs that will support and strengthen its workforce, and ensuring that our team members are actively involved in building and sustaining an equitable work environment. This FY23 business plan commitment includes LDH-led initiatives that will: • Improve #TeamLDH Culture, Recruitment, and Retention • Expand Workforce Development Training Program Improve Performance, Accountability, and Compliance LDH accomplished many successes in promoting transparency, ac- countability, and compliance of program processes in our FY22 busi- ness plan, and this will continue in FY23. The development of quality improvement (QI) processes will strengthen the efficiency of program activities and provide objective measures of achievement. This FY23 business plan commitment includes LDH-led initiatives that will: • Establish an LDH Annual Quality Improvement Process • Develop and Implement a Process to Reduce External Audit Find- ings • Advance Prevention of Medicaid Fraud and Waste • Develop Sustainable, Equitable, and Comprehensive Supplemen- tal Payment Systems Strengthen Customer Service, Partnerships, and Community Relations LDH will continue working in close communication and partnership with the individuals and communities we serve. Ongoing community engagement enables deeper understanding of our residents’ needs, allowing us to better address the social determinants of health impact- ing the health outcomes of our residents. This FY23 business plan commitment includes LDH-led initiatives that will: • Establish the Office of Women’s Health and Community Health • Build Statewide Capacity to Engage in Systemic Health Equity Work • Strengthen, Expand, and Diversify Louisiana’s Healthcare Work- force • Expand Collaborations with Community Partners LDH has five major categories in which they are committed to making measurable improvements: