Support Community Health

The Norman Regional Health Foundation’s mission is to support community health and wellness. Various community partners receive financial or resource support.

Norman Public Schools Partnership

Thanks to a partnership between Norman Public Schools (NPS), Norman Regional Health System (NRHS) and the Norman Regional Health Foundation, each of the 24 public schools in the Norman district is staffed with a Health Assistant or Nurse. This partnership funds health professionals so every student can have their medical needs met in a timely manner throughout the school day. NPS Nurses and Health Assistants care for more than 94,600 students annually.

School health professionals not only assist students with stomach ailments and sore throats, but they monitor medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, severe food allergies and seizure disorders. Because of the care that is able to be provided during the school day by the Nurses and Health Assistants, the stress of taking off work for parents is effectively eliminated. This partnership is a model health program striving for quality student health care and has been recognized throughout Oklahoma and the nation.

Telehealth Pilot Program

To enhance this health partnership, Norman Regional Health Foundation provided funding for three telemedicine tablets to support the Norman Regional Kids Virtual Care Pilot Program established during the 2018-19 academic year. Initially, Irving Middle School and Washington Elementary School hosted the pilot program with Norman North High School scheduled to go live spring 2019. Telehealth uses audio and video technology to connect students who visit the school nurse with a Norman Regional pediatrician, should the student need advanced medical care. Early results of the pilot program indicate 81% of students who have a virtual visit are able to return to class. Other benefits include providing timely medical diagnoses so children can begin medication immediately and return to the classroom earlier; and including parents on the virtual visit without leaving their home or workplace.

Food Pharmacy Partnership

In 2020, Norman Regional embarked on a bold initiative to identify and address food insecurity among their patient population. Screening began on all hospitalized patients to identify food insecurity in those that were acutely ill and most vulnerable. Thanks in partnership with the Regional Food Bank and the Norman Regional Health Foundation, the Food Pharmacy provides a two-week supply of food to patients who screen positive for food insecurity.

Research has shown that up to 80% of social and behavioral factors determine a person’s health outcomes. These conditions have a huge impact on health, health equity, and overall well-being. Oklahoma ranks fifth in the nation for food insecurity. According to Feeding America Research Analytics, reducing food insecurity within Cleveland County by 3% would result in a 22% health care savings in the county.

Today, this program has expanded to include patients who visit primary care clinics (Norman, Moore, Newcastle, Blanchard, Purcell south Oklahoma City) and those who visit Norman Regional emergency departments. More than 1,300 patients have received this food assistance to aid in healing along with case management support.