Smart Justice Project program to help area patients

Blog by Kristin Jenkins, President of the DFW Hospital Council Foundation

On January 23, the DFW Hospital Council (DFWHC) Foundation hosted the first Meadows Smart Justice Project Collaborative meeting here at our offices. In attendance were representatives from Texas Health Resources, Parkland Health and Hospital System, Baylor Scott and White Health, Meadows Policy Institute, Loopback Analytics and the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority. Additional partners and systems are expected to participate in the future.

The Smart Justice Project increases treatment and promotes efficient use of those resources to help patients with mental health and substance misuse. These patients frequently use our health systems’ emergency rooms and have multiple encounters with the Dallas justice system. The project’s goal is to improve the health of these patients and reduce their encounters with the justice system and emergency services.

Meadows Policy Institute is leading this initiative with funding from the Caruth and Arnold Foundations. The institute has engaged Loopback Analytics to provide a platform to exchange information to treat patients engaged in the program. Healthcare providers affiliated with the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority in addition to the health systems participating in the collaborative have agreed to share patient information to better assist these patients in need.

Working together, these community leaders strive to improve the lives of our residents in a manner that honors not only their mental health needs and privacy, but by assistance to help them avoid further incarceration.

It is a privilege for the DFWHC Foundation to facilitate this work by providing an opportunity for partners to discuss operational issues, evaluate outcomes and receive the expert advice of Meadows and Loopback Analytics. We will continue to update you on the projects’ activities and outcomes throughout the year.