Launched in September 2020, Healthier Northshore is a collaborative initiative led by St. Tammany Health System to improve health outcomes across Louisiana’s Northshore region. Born out of the urgent health needs highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the program brings together nearly 50 leaders from health care, government, education and nonprofit sectors. Its mission is to improve access to care, promote preventive health care and address chronic issues such as poor behavioral health, smoking and vaping, poor nutrition and lack of exercise. The program operates through a network of mobile clinics, community gardens, school-based campaigns and health education events to make health care services more accessible.
Healthier Northshore has already shown measurable success, including increased cancer screenings, improved smoking cessation rates and over 2,000 rural residents gaining access to care through mobile clinics. Its emphasis on collaboration is a model of community-driven health innovation with a replicable structure.
