OU Health in the Community

Whether you make regular visits to an OU Health doctor’s office, participate in wellness screenings or health educational programs, or you need specialized care at one of our hospitals or centers, you can take advantage of a wide range of healthcare activities and services from OU Health throughout communities in Oklahoma and, often, at a location near you.

Leading Healthcare & Improving Life for All Oklahomans

Wherever you live in Oklahoma, you’ll find OU Health dedicated to improving your life and the lives of your loved ones by reaching underserved communities through direct patient care and services, education, and research. Our commitment to good stewardship within our community means you can rely on our efforts to identify, mitigate and address our community’s health needs inside and outside our facilities, as well as among our partners and in situations beyond the traditional medical model.

Community Impact & Mission

With 804 hospital beds, OU Health acts as a safety net hospital for Oklahoma County and the state of Oklahoma. In 2019 alone, OU Health provided $115 million in charity care for uninsured patients and unreimbursed services. OU Health also serves a disproportionate number of underserved communities, including older adults and children from low-income families. Often relying on government payors, more than 60% of our patients have highly complex health needs. The variety of our patients and our services aligns with the principles of our mission: patient care, education and research to improve the lives of all people.

Beyond the Doctor’s Office

Healthy living happens every day – through actions you can take to prevent certain health conditions, regular checkups that keep you on track and easy access to specialty care when you need it. OU Health stands by your side at every step along your health journey with the many ways we make sound investments in our community through services and programs that reach far beyond the doors of our facilities.

Innovative Research for Improving Community Health

In partnership with University of Oklahoma Centers of Excellence, OU Health supports innovative research intended to improve quality of life in the state. Whether working with the OU Tulsa campus on the Food Is Medicine program and study, supporting the development of smoking cessation technologies or actively participating in the Oklahoma Physicians Research/Resource Network (OKPRN), OU Health invests in innovation happening throughout Oklahoma.

Education for Health Professionals

As Oklahoma’s only comprehensive academic medical center and campus, OU Health serves a critical role in developing the next generation of medical professionals for the state and region. The leading healthcare experts in many medical fields work at OU Health, serving our community and training the strongest possible healthcare workforce for Oklahoma’s future.

Activities to Improve Community Health

While medical professionals across OU Health primarily focus on providing the highest quality healthcare, OU Health staff members at all levels give their time to help make Oklahoma a better, healthier place to live. You’ll find OU Health staff as volunteers in the community through efforts like our Community Partnership Allocation Program, as well as investing in community-based organizations and strategically connecting with partners throughout the community. All activities seek to improve both quality of life and health outcomes for communities we serve.

Strategic Efforts in Community Health

For information about the strategic vision and goals of OU Health community health efforts, watch here for updates via our annual report.

Community Health Needs Assessment

By understanding what’s happening in our communities and completing a thorough examination of health needs, we can more strategically target efforts and programs to create stronger impacts.

Review the Community Health Needs Assessment Report [pdf] to find out more.

Commitment to Good Stewardship

Through the 340B Good Stewardship Program [pdf] , OU Health better serves the community by extending its resources to the benefit of communities across the region.