Access to health care plays a vital role in supporting healthy starts for children – especially those in rural or underserved communities. To help more kids get the care they need, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona is providing a $270,000 grant to support Northern Arizona Healthcare Children’s Health Center (CHC). This funding will increase access to specialty care for children across Northern Arizona, an expansive region that includes rural communities and tribal nations.
CHC, located in Flagstaff, is a vital hub for pediatric specialty care. Many families in rural communities travel one to two hours to access services. This investment will strengthen CHC’s ability to provide critical support in key areas such as nutrition, cardiac care, and trauma recovery for children.
A portion of the funds have been used to purchase an anti-gravity treadmill in support of the Inspire Program, an intensive health behavior and lifestyle program for kids who are experiencing obesity and associated conditions like Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The new treadmill allows children to move without the full impact of their bodyweight to help increase strength, balance, and endurance.
As part of the Inspire Program, each child participates in an individualized, comprehensive care plan led by a nurse practitioner, registered dietician, exercise specialist, and social worker. Support extends to the entire family, who can participate in healthy cooking demonstrations and lifestyle education. In a state that ranks 48th in physical activity and where nearly one in three children experience excess weight or obesity, this program empowers families with tools to build lifelong healthy habits.1,2
The investment will also expand access to pediatric cardiology with the purchase of an ultrasound echocardiogram system. The machine performs a non-invasive test that allows physicians to assess heart structure and function related to defects and abnormalities, ultimately helping more children receive timely cardiac care.
The last portion of the donation will go toward the Safe Child Center. At the Safe Child Center, Northern Arizona Healthcare assists children who are victims of trauma by providing intervention services in a sensitive environment in collaboration with law enforcement and behavioral health providers.
