Overview
The southern Arizona region encompassing Tucson ranks in the top quartile among 306 U.S. regions on The Commonwealth Fund’s Scorecard on Local Health System Performance, 2012, outperforming many other regions with similar socioeconomic characteristics. Its performance may stem from the emphasis providers place on delivery system innovation and best practices and the prevalence of managed care arrangements. The region also benefits from the activity of several nonprofit organizations that collaborate with government agencies, health systems, and academic institutions to support patient education and population health initiatives. Also notable are efforts to improve the accessibility and quality of care for underserved populations through the expansion of federally qualified health centers, the creation of health promotion programs by local Native American tribal organizations for their communities, and the use of telemedicine and community health workers.
