Health Equity in the Southern Great Plains: Stories from the 2023 Oklahoma Transformative Care Symposium

In some conservative states, the concept of equity has become a divisive topic. For example, in a letter addressed to Members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education earlier this year, Superintendent Ryan Walters referred to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as “harmful ideologies.” Yet, even within this challenging environment, it is possible to make progress on advancing equity in primary care and behavioral health services. 

In October 2023, the Oklahoma Primary Care Association (OKPCA) and the Oklahoma Behavioral Health Association (OBHA), co-hosted the Oklahoma Transformative Care Symposium, convening healthcare providers and stakeholders from across the state to engage in discussions on health equity, health disparities, and social determinants of health. The conference included sessions on trauma-informed care, substance use disorders (SUD), Tribal health, women’s and LGBTQIA+ health, chronic disease, and mindfulness. 

Two common themes emerged throughout the sessions: (1) the impact of funding, including the lack of flexibility or availability of state funding, and (2) the significance of partnerships and community. Furthermore, speakers demonstrated how deeply entwined funding and partnerships are. While it is necessary to have either adequate and sustainable funding sources or strong partnerships, speakers reiterated that the combination of both is what leads to desired outcomes. Below, we share three examples of how varying levels of reliable funding and partnerships play out on the ground in Oklahoma. 

Strengthened Partnerships and Care Integration in the Face of Unreliable Funding 

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and behavioral health consultant, Frannie Pryor dedicates much of her career to improving integrated care and care coordination at Community Health Centers, Inc. (an FQHC in Oklahoma). She described one of her first experiences with truly integrated care with a “willing [primary care] provider” who let her shadow patient visits. During one such visit, Pryor conducted a progressive muscle relaxation exercise, which lowered the patient’s systolic blood pressure by 20 points; being in the room with both the patient and provider was critical for demonstrating how to pair behavioral health with primary care interventions. This reminded her that the work “wasn’t just with the patients. It was also with the providers.” Now, as a consultant and behavioral health director at the South Central Medical & Resource Center, Pryor works in a health center with community health navigators and coordinators who help to align services for patients with behavioral health and primary care needs. 

Medical director support is integral to care integration efforts in Oklahoma. As Frannie explained, administrators do not often relinquish money typically spent on cutting-edge technologies and new equipment. While many health centers have sufficient funds, care integration is often left out of budget considerations due to its perceived lack of profitability. Given that medical directors and health centers themselves may be reluctant to allocate internal funds to care integration, external funding becomes the most feasible path toward care integration. 

The Utilization of Time-Bound Federal Funding to Deepen Community Partnerships 

The Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE) at the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) was initially established in 1994, but a recent CDC grant that the office received in 2018 has greatly broadened its scope. This funding led to growth in both the OMHHE’s personnel and work; now, they administer grants to grassroots organizations working to address the social determinants of health, promote health equity, and increase access to healthcare for all. The office’s aim in advancing health equity is matched by its intention of bridging the State Health Department’s work to smaller-scale initiatives throughout Oklahoma. 

“The ability to be a change agent is limited by the system.” – Chris Harris, MD

One limitation of the “system” is the ability to finance these programs. Despite the grant’s success in connecting with the communities served, these programs are only funded for a short period of time, and it is unlikely that OMHHE will receive State funding to sustain them. Nevertheless, this office and its work are a testament to the ways that health equity is embraced by different players within the State and how Oklahomans can engage with their health system. 

The Right People – Centering Health Equity Through Robust Community Relationships and Private Funding 

Juno Medical was created by and for the community to form a culturally relevant healthcare facility, both in terms of the employees and the Greenwood neighborhood. Every aspect of the Juno Medical story—where it is located, who works there, how it is funded—helps paint a larger picture of the power of private funding and the significance of community-building in promoting health equity across Oklahoma’s health clinics. Dr. Jabraan Pasha recounted the establishment of Juno Medical in Tulsa’s Greenwood neighborhood. Greenwood, a historic freedom colony and home to booming Black-owned businesses in the early 20th century until the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, lacked a clinic that reflected and catered to its community. 

“There aren’t enough providers who are minorities and not enough clinics in minority areas.” – Chris Harris, MD

Pasha proudly shared that only one of the Greenwood clinic’s physicians is from outside of Tulsa; everyone else has lived or worked in the community prior. One of their initial challenges in attracting patients was that many residents did not think this new health center was for them. In an effort to embed themselves within the Greenwood community, Juno Medical’s opening event was a street party with food and games for local families and children. 

Health equity can only be achieved when it's woven into the fabric of the organization, argued Dr. Pasha. “People First,” one of five values listed in Juno’s mission, is reflected in the structure of their organization: the same level of respect is extended to the front office worker, the board-certified internal medicine specialist, and the patient. Additionally, their entire staff receives health equity training to ensure that new and relevant concepts are applied to their practice. 

Toward a Better and Brighter Future

These powerful stories demonstrate that adequate and continuous funding, strong partnerships, and stakeholder support are all necessary to make progress toward health equity, particularly in Oklahoma. The existence of the conference itself was a clear example of the progress within the state and “a sign of success,” as Fragua pointed out, adding, “It’s Oklahoma! We know how much work needs to be done!” By convening committed, enthusiastic public health leaders to share their experiences, OKPCA and OBHA are empowering those in the State to advance health equity.