Public Health Infrastructure Grant
$8.3 million Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to bolster the infrastructure of Tulsa Health Department.
THD Compensation Study
The Tulsa Health Department hired Gallagher Human Resources & Compensation Consulting to evaluate pay rates and identify inconsistencies among all positions within the agency. In January 2024, the salary structure ranges and job grading system were revised according to study recommendations. 150 out of 340 employees received a salary adjustment because of the study. The lowest salary an employee could make at the Tulsa Health Department at the time the study was implemented was $17.31 an hour. Some of the entry-level positions, such as groundkeepers, janitorial staff, clerks and administrative aides, require a high school diploma. The Tulsa Health Department also implemented a salary modification system for newly hired employees who have advanced education beyond what is required in the job description or possess five or more years of experience in the role. Preliminary data indicates that changes to the salary structure ranges, grading system and job descriptions have translated to an increase in applications for open positions. In addition, there has been an increase in retention rates as compared to January through June 2023.
Expanded Support for THD programs
During the fiscal year, the grant supported 16 full-time positions across the agency located in Human Resources, Maintenance and Operations, Legal, the Director's Office and the Health Equity Office.
Clinic Remodel of the James O. Goodwin Health Center
The CDC Public Health Infrastructure Grant provided $400,000 to the remodel of the James O. Goodwin Health Center. The funding specifically supports the remodel of the front entrance of the building and redesign of the interior clinic. The front entrance was not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), making it difficult for individuals with disabilities to enter the building. This remodel serves to improve health equity standards for staff, clients and visitors to the building. The remodel of the clinical space will improve the working conditions for THD staff as well as improving the experience of clients visiting the building.
Increased Training Opportunities for Employees
The grant supported employee training opportunities including a Leadership training series, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training and the 2024 Blood at the Roots: Issues of Health Equity Conference.
Increased Capacity of the Health Equity Office
Expanding the work of health equity is an important component of the PHIG. The grant funding supports six community health workers and one manager position within the Health Equity Office. The community health workers have the capacity to serve all residents of Tulsa County while also having specific areas of focus including the LGBTQIA+ Community, Hispanic Community, Burmese Community and Tulsa County District 1.
Capital Improvements
• Painted and updated the carpet in some of the hallways at Tulsa Health Department's James O. Goodwin Health Center
• Prepared for the closing of the public health clinic at James O. Goodwin Health Center starting on July 1, 2024 to improve accessibility of the public exterior and interior entrances as well as the interior spaces housing clinical services, the Vital Records Office and part of the Environmental Health Services Program
• Replaced flooring at Broken Arrow WIC Clinic and installed a door on the clerk's office for security measures
• Replaced the restroom flooring at Bixby WIC clinic
• Prepared for the temporary relocation of the Child Guidance office to 9920 East 21st Street, Tulsa 74129 due to the remodel at James O. Goodwin Health Center
Marketing and Communications
Launch of New Website
A new THD website was launched in November 2023 that features an intuitive, user-friendly design that is ADA compliant. The new site centers health equity, including language translation capabilities and culturally diverse imagery. It includes a dual language feature which includes human-translated Spanish URLs along with a language plugin to other languages. For this fiscal year, there were 751,000 pageviews sessions among 274,000 unique visitors to the Tulsa Health Department website.
Media
• Completed 160 media interviews and issued 44 press releases and media advisories, resulting in 615 story links captured
• Total television viewership of 15,130,641 viewers with total local market publicity value of $605,138.25 in earned media generated
Launch of Monthly Newsletter
The Tulsa Health Department monthly newsletter, launched in January 2024, serves as a key communication tool and trusted source for health-related information, maintaining a strong relationship with those who signed up for COVID-19 updates during the pandemic. It is designed to provide concise, informative content on topics such as illness and disease prevention, food safety, and THD service offerings and events. The newsletter has 9,450 subscribers and has maintained strong engagement with an average open rate of 43% over its first six months. Moving forward, THD will continue to refine the newsletter by reviewing analytics to ensure it remains an essential resource for public health information and community engagement.
Community Outreach
THD hosted 147 events and attended 494 community events. These events include health fairs, resource fairs, presentations and conferences.
STI Prevention Campaign
A Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) prevention campaign was developed to inform Tulsa County residents the prevalence of STIs in Tulsa County. The campaign encouraged residents to use preventative measures (practicing safe sex) to protect themselves from STIs. In the spring 2024 campaign, THD updated the campaign to include a new, additional call to action to “Schedule Your STI Test Now.” Ads in English and Spanish were deployed on digital display, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pandora, iHeart Radio and Spotify. The campaign generated 1.8 million impressions and 14,804 clicks to the website for prevention, testing and treatment resources.
Nurse Recruitment
To address a shortage of nurses and nursing position applicants, a campaign was generated to increase awareness of the benefits of a nursing career at THD. The campaign was informed through research with current nursing staff and Tulsa area nurses. The campaign featured real THD staff who can speak to the benefits in an authentic way. The campaign ran from September 18, 2023 through February 11, 2024. It yielded over 11 million impressions and 69,459 clicks to the THD nursing careers landing page, including 912 clicks on the “Apply Now” button. The campaign also raised the visibility of THD as an employer, and the Human Resources department reported an increase in applicants for both nursing positions and non-clinical positions.
Office of Community Health and Quality Improvement
The Quality Improvement Plan 2024-2029 underwent a complete revision to align with the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) standards and was presented at the Board of Health meeting in June 2024.
Quality Improvement (QI) / Service Excellence
An agency-wide electronic database of employee credentials, licenses and qualifications was established to enhance the Tulsa Health Department's ability to reallocate personnel during public health emergencies while maintaining the continuity of its operations.
Over 200 Tulsa Health Department staff received customer service training through program-specific customer training, Lunch & Learn sessions and New Hire Orientation.
The Marketing & Creative Services team is undergoing a QI project to streamline the project intake process and utilize a project management tool for tracking projects in June 2024.
The Tulsa Health Department held an Annual Awards on April 5, 2024 to recognize the accomplishments of its staff. The following awards were given to deserving recipients: Impact Award, OKMRC Volunteer Award, Pam Rask Service Excellence Award, Public Service Award, Rising Star Award, Team Award, Team Member of the Year, and Congeniality Award.
During the 2023 Tulsa Area United Way Campaign, THD exceeded the 2023 goal of raising $8,000 by raising $13,294. This was made possible by incorporating new fundraising opportunities such as a garage sale and family Bingo night (pictured below).
There was a total of 14,199 page views. Thirty new indicators were added across the following sections: Socioeconomic Status, Maternal & Child Health, Natural & Built Environment, Injury & Violence, Healthy Behaviors, Mental Health & Substance Abuse, and Access to Healthcare.
Data Support for the Tulsa Health Department Programs
75 reports to support programs and the agency for program evaluation, agency efficiency and grant reporting:
• 12 clinic appointment reports
• Monthly, quarterly and annual reports for the Maternal and Child Health (MCH)
• MCH worker reports for performance reviews
• Quarterly and annual reports for School Health
• Work Plan Results for MCH and School Health
Data Requests from Community Partners
38 total data requests with over 5,500 total data points included.
Qualtrics
The data team supports the agency's use of Qualtrics as a data collection tool by creating surveys, allowing clients to schedule appointments and sending automated appointment reminders.
• 448 surveys with 63% active surveys. 216 are new surveys
• 23,995 survey responses
• 112 Total users. 19 new users
• 2,577 total Qualtrics logins
Information Technology
Enhanced Network Security
The IT department implemented robust measures to strengthen network security and improve data access controls. These efforts have significantly reduced risks and increased organizational resilience against cyber threats.
• Monitored 9.2 billion network observations and mitigated 200 alerts, maintaining a secure and robust network infrastructure
• Processed 1.4 million inbound emails, detecting and mitigating 314 malware-laden emails, ensuring the security of the organization's communication channels
IT Helpdesk
The IT department resolved 2,396 helpdesk tickets over the past year, ensuring smooth operations and timely support for the organization.
Cloud-Based Printing Solutions
Cloud-based network printing, copying, and scanning were successfully deployed, reducing reliance on local printers. Secure print functionality was integrated to enhance document security. This initiative has streamlined operations, improved security, and optimized resource utilization.
E-Fax Implementation
A modern E-Fax solution was implemented to enhance the security of fax communications while significantly reducing costs associated with traditional fax lines.
Human Resources
Total employees: 361
Regular full-time employees: 337
New hires: 82
New hires: 82
No. of employees who have been with THD for 10+ years: 90
Average years of service: 7.3
Average age of employee: 43
Female: 291
Male: 70
• African American: 71
• American Indian/Alaska Native: 14
• Asian: 17
• Caucasian: 167
• Hispanic: 87
• Native Hawaii/Pacific Islander: 1
• Two or more races: 4
THD Wellness Day on Sep 15, 2023
THD Winter Social on Dec 14, 2023
THD Annual Awards on Apr 5, 2024
THD FIeld Day on May 17, 2024
Working 4 Balance
Tulsa Health Department’s internal workplace wellness program
Certified Healthy Business
The Tulsa Health Department maintains its excellence status for the Certified Healthy Oklahoma Program. The certification recognizes businesses that support health and wellness through environmental and policy change.
Wellness Events For Employees
THD Wellness Day was held at the Tulsa Tech Memorial Campus on September 15, 2023. Employees participated in activities such as yoga, Zumba, tug-of-war and cornhole. The three-hour event provided a mental health break for 196 employees ahead of an all-staff meeting. Wellness services such as health screenings, flu and COVID vaccines, basic spa services and a cooking demonstration were also offered at the event.
THD Field Day was attended by 135 employees on May 17, 2024. The event was designed for employees to relieve stress, foster camaraderie between new and seasoned staff, and promote fun. Activities included kickball, a painting class, gardening, a Ninja Jump and several individual games and challenges.
Trainings for Employees
• A series of trainings on menopause provided valuable insights to help employees understand menopause symptoms and navigate this life transition with confidence. A total of 146 employees attended these trainings.
• CPR training was completed by 45 employees who became certified to enhance their emergency response skills and preparedness to assist in critical situations.
• Employee Assistance Program trainings covered topics such as mental health at work, stress management, conflict resolution and compassion fatigue were provided to employees. 151 employees attended these trainings between January and June 2024.
Ergonomic Assessments
69 ergonomic assessments were conducted for new hires. Working 4 Balance provided supplies such as wrist and mouse pads, footrests, monitor risers, document holders and new chairs as needed.
Employee Health Screenings
Health Screenings were provided to 253 employees to help them better understand their individual cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure levels. Employees receive two hours of PTO incentive for completing their health screening during their birthday month.
Health Coaching
101 health coaching sessions were conducted, offering personalized guidance and support to help improve their overall health, set and achieve wellness goals, and adopt sustainable lifestyle changes.
Health-related Employee Activities
Various health-related challenges were organized to encourage employee participation.
• Blood Pressure Challenge: 82 employees registered to self-monitor their blood pressure and gain a better understanding of their numbers for improved health management.
• Hydration Challenge: 64 employees registered to either maintain or increase their water intake based on their individual health needs.
• Step Challenge: 96 employees challenged themselves to increase their daily step count and adjust their targets based on their fitness levels and progress.
• Fruit & Vegetable Challenge: 95 employees took part in the challenge to increase their daily intake of fruits and vegetables.
Organizational Development
Lunch and Learn Sessions
Twenty-one Lunch and Learn sessions were conducted in the fiscal year. 244 participants attended the sessions that included hybrid and entirely virtual options. The expanded format provides employees greater flexibility to participate from any location, allowing more employees to benefit from professional development opportunities. This promotes growth and collaboration across departments, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing within the agency.
Eight Cultural Humility Trainings
Cultural Humility training goes beyond mere awareness of cultural differences; it requires cultivating a mindset rooted in openness, curiosity, and ongoing self-reflection about one's own cultural beliefs, biases and assumptions. Eight Diversity, Equity and Inclusive training sessions covering Gender Identity, Crucial Conversations, Fostering a Sense of Belonging, and Words Matter were hosted for the THD management and staff. Educating our workforce on cultural humility enhances interpersonal interactions and fosters an inclusive environment where all voices are respected and valued. By empowering employees to embrace continuous learning and growth in this area, we strengthen our organization's ability to serve our community with cultural sensitivity and mutual respect.
Launch of New Hire First Day Onboarding program in January 2024
Thirty-five new hires completed their New Hire First Day Onboarding. As a strategic initiative to improve employee retention, the program provides structured training and introduction to THD's mission, vision, values and key resources, helping new hires integrate successfully into their roles.
Redesigned New Hire Orientation
The New Hire Orientation program has been redesigned to offer an in-depth introduction to essential programs, such as Maternal and Child Health, along with a detailed overview of the Professional Development Incentive Program. Eighty-nine employees completed the New Hire Orientation (NHO) successfully during the fiscal year. The enhanced NHO equips new employees with a more robust understanding of essential departmental initiatives and growth opportunities, promoting a more connected and well-informed workforce.