Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) Week honors the invaluable contributions of Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) and Community Paramedicine (CP) teams. MIH Week is October 6-12, 2024.
This year’s MIH Week brings together providers, advocates, and supporters to showcase the innovations and partnerships driving MIH forward. In this post, we highlight the daily themes for MIH Week, explore ways to get involved, and announce the exciting news that our MIH Week Champions will be revealed throughout the week.
Download logos, access resources, and join us to celebrate the impact of MIH across the nation!
Mobile Integrated Health Will Impact National Healthcare Delivery
MIH programs are optimizing how healthcare is delivered by bringing care directly into the community. Through partnerships with first responders, community paramedics, and other healthcare providers, MIH connects individuals with the services they need—whether it’s managing chronic conditions, avoiding unnecessary emergency department visits, or providing preventive care in underserved areas.
The mobile integrated healthcare and community paramedicine industry is growing. According to NAMIHP growth data, the number of agencies, organizations, stakeholders, and paramedicine professionals starting new programs or seeking resources for growing mobile integrated health and community paramedicine efforts increased by 66% in 2023.
MIH models improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and bridge critical gaps in care for vulnerable populations.
MIH Week Daily Themes
Specially themed days during MIH Week help in highlighting the various patient populations and areas of healthcare likely to benefit from MIH.
Sunday – Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities
MIH programs are crucial in addressing the broader social factors that influence health, such as housing, food access, and transportation. On Sunday, take the opportunity to explore how MIH services help reduce health disparities and improve equity in the communities they serve.
Monday – Home Safety and Falls Prevention
Falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults. MIH teams often conduct home safety assessments to prevent falls and ensure that homes are safe environments for patients. Use Monday to highlight initiatives and tools that support fall prevention and home safety measures.
Tuesday – Chronic Disease and Medication Management
MIH programs often help people manage chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. With regular monitoring and proper medication management, MIH helps prevent complications, disease exacerbations, and reduces hospital visits. On Tuesday, share success stories about how your MIH program is making a difference in managing chronic diseases.
Wednesday – Behavioral and Mental Health
Mental and behavioral health are key parts of overall well-being, and MIH teams are stepping up to provide support in these areas. Wednesday is dedicated to raising awareness about the mental health services offered through MIH, and to breaking down the stigma around seeking help.
Thursday – Acute Care At Home
MIH programs can often provide hospital-level care directly in the patient’s home, offering acute care services that reduce the need for emergency department visits. Thursday highlights the advancements in acute care at home, showcasing its role in reducing costs and improving patient satisfaction.
Friday – Addiction and Substance Use Disorders
Addressing addiction and substance use disorders is a major challenge in healthcare, and MIH providers are on the front lines, offering treatment and support. Friday is a day to raise awareness of the innovative approaches MIH teams are using to help those struggling with addiction, connecting them with vital community resources.
Saturday – Team Approach and Interprofessional Care
Collaboration is at the heart of MIH. Saturday celebrates the teamwork that makes MIH successful, whether it’s paramedics, nurses, social workers, or other healthcare professionals working together. This day is all about recognizing how this interprofessional approach leads to better, more comprehensive care for patients.
How to Celebrate MIH Week
Whether you’ve been planning for months or are looking for spur-of-the-moment ways to get involved, here are some simple and impactful ideas for celebrating MIH Week:
- Optimize Social Media: Download the official MIH Week logos and share daily posts highlighting each theme using the hashtag #MIHWeek to show your support.
Quick tip: Get your phone out and record a short video message celebrating the theme of the day!
- Send some Shout-Outs! Do you regularly provide agency updates to stakeholders or have a monthly newsletter? Send a special notice or email to recognize the hard work of your rockstar team members, or your MIH program as a whole.
- Invite Partners to Join: Reach out to local stakeholders or agency partners and thank them for their collaboration in honor of MIH Week. Encourage them to celebrate their MIH partnerships and the success of your efforts together. To make it easy for them, send a copy of the official MIH Week logo and the hashtag #MIHWeek.
- Be Formal About It: NAMIHP spent months developing the proclamation language to support members in recognizing the second week of October as MIH Week.
If your state, agency, or organization would like a copy of the proclamation language to build from, contact NAMIHP at office@namihp.org
- Host a Virtual or In-Person Event: It’s never too late to organize a quick panel discussion, lunch-and-learn, or a community outreach event that ties into celebrating MIH Week or the efforts of MIH and CP across the month of October. Even a simple roundtable with local healthcare stakeholders can spark great conversations.
- Get Involved: Celebrate your team by giving them access to resources and a nationwide MIH and CP network. Capitalize on the special this week to say thanks, and gift your entire agency a NAMIHP membership. Use the code MIHWEEK for 15% off.
- Celebrate with the MIH or CP Team: Gather the group for a celebratory lunch or outing to show appreciation, or incorporate MIH Week awards to recognize the hard work of your MIH staff.
- Partner with Local Media: If you have local news contacts, reach out and see if they’d be willing to cover MIH Week. Even a short interview with an MIH team member, quote from a community partner, or a spotlight story can amplify your reach.
MIH Week Champions Announcement
Nominations have been rolling in from across the nation. We are excited to announce that starting in MIH Week 2024, NAMIHP will reveal the first MIH Week Champions—individuals and teams recognized for their exceptional contributions to mobile integrated healthcare.
Stay tuned for the daily announcements and celebrate the achievements of these outstanding professionals who are advancing the future of MIH.
Want to Formally Recognize MIH Week with a Proclamation?
NAMIHP leadership developed the MIH Week proclamation language in 2023, to recognize the second week of October as MIH Week. Indiana and South Carolina governors led the way, as two of the first states to recognize the incredible impact of these programs as part of MIH Week.
If your state, agency, or organization would like a copy of the proclamation language to build from, contact NAMIHP at office@namihp.org to get involved.
Together, we can spotlight the vital role of MIH in shaping a healthier, more accessible future for all.