Oregon Rural Quality Excellence Award

One Community Health has been selected as the 2023 Community Based Organization recipient of the Oregon Rural Quality Excellence Award for its outstanding work on Clinic-Community-Academic Partnerships to improve HPV vaccination rates and health equity. The award was presented at the Oregon Rural Health Conference on Thursday, October 12th, 2023 in Sunriver.



We are proud to announce that One Community Health (OCH) has been awarded the 2023 Oregon Rural Quality Excellence Award in recognition of our outstanding commitment to improving health outcomes and advancing health equity in rural Oregon. This honor highlights our work to increase HPV vaccination rates through innovative quality improvement (QI) strategies and deep community partnerships.

Tackling a Preventable Cancer with Community-Driven Solutions

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of several types of cancer. Fortunately, it’s also one of the most preventable—thanks to a safe and effective vaccine recommended for boys and girls starting at age 9. Yet, vaccination rates across the U.S. remain low, especially in rural, low-income, and non-white communities.

At OCH, we recognized this gap and took action. Through a collaborative, data-driven approach, we launched a multi-year QI initiative to boost HPV vaccination rates in our Hood River and The Dalles clinics.

Real Results Through Quality Improvement

Between November 2020 and May 2022, OCH implemented a series of Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles that led to measurable improvements:

  • HPV vaccine initiation rates rose from 53% to 67% in Hood River and 64% to 75% in The Dalles.

  • Completion rates increased from 67% to 71% and 62% to 66%, respectively.

These gains were achieved during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—making them even more remarkable.

Community Partnerships That Made a Difference

Our success was made possible by strong partnerships with local school districts, public health departments, and tribal organizations.

Together, we:

  • Co-created and distributed an HPV vaccine flyer to every child in 3rd grade and above in Hood River County and North Wasco School Districts.

  • Partnered with the Gorge Native American Collaboration and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission to reach Native American families without access to Indian Health Services.

  • Developed replicable workflows and communication scripts that other clinics can now use to improve their own outreach.

Lessons in Leadership and Equity

Key to our success was the unwavering support of our clinical leadership and the dedication of our staff across departments. By allocating time and resources for regular QI work, we created a culture of continuous improvement.

Our commitment to health equity—especially for Latinx, Native American, farmworker, and low-income communities—was central to our approach. Trusting relationships with community partners enabled us to deliver consistent, culturally relevant messaging about the HPV vaccine’s safety and effectiveness.

A Model for Rural Health Innovation

This award recognizes not just a single project, but a broader vision for rural health transformation. OCH’s work demonstrates how rural clinics can lead the way in public health innovation by combining clinical excellence with community engagement.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the leaders who guided this effort: Dr. Jennifer Jehnsen, Dr. Kate McKenna, and Marilu Landin. Their leadership was instrumental in achieving these outcomes. Many thanks also to the Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network, North Central Public Health District, Hood River County Health Department, North Wasco County School District, and Hood River County School District for their close partnerships.

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