Full Transcript for Elevate with Purpose 314-Affinia Healthcare

normally expect in a pharmacy. 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:14.319 We we do a lot of clinical care in the pharmacy as well. 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:16.399 So I have a couple of questions. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:22.079 I know you have like you go out in the community because I've worked the events where do you have a mobile unit? 00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:24.560 Take me through a day of the mobile unit. 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:26.399 Do they do like blood pressure checks? 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:27.920 Do they give glasses out? 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:29.759 Do they have mammogram mobiles? 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:31.199 All those different types of things. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.079 So the mobile unit goes out to different communities. 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:36.000 It doesn't really matter the zip code. 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:40.560 We have a lot of partners and we get a lot of uh referrals from different partners. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:51.680 So we are out in the community with the mobile unit, and that consists of A1Cs, blood pressure checks, uh, glucose checks, and they also do referrals for optometry if they need vision. 00:05:51.759 --> 00:06:03.439 So we can go out to send them a referral to other agencies or with mainly we try to stick within Affinia Healthcare, but sometimes if they don't have insurance or if they need other things, then they'll have to go out to another partner. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:11.120 So we really try to stay close within Affinia with the referrals with and can you talk also on this? 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:13.040 Uh just answer this for me. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:17.040 Uh, a lot of people, I I I talk about Affinia Healthcare a lot. 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:22.480 You know, obviously, I help start the Friends Council, I'm on the advisory board. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:30.560 Um, but I I really want people to understand all about different like programs that you do within the community. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:42.800 I know that junior league that Lily and I are both in, we did the centering program for the moms and we threw baby showers and we went and I learned more about being pregnant than somebody who's never been pregnant. 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:44.319 And I really loved it. 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:50.480 Um, Lily also was there for the kickoff for the urban garden, and I I wish I could have been there. 00:06:50.560 --> 00:07:00.160 And I've worked the Food Fridays, but talk about like those programs that I think that people in our community don't know they exist and how they could get involved in those things. 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:05.600 So health on the go is something that we're currently doing right now, and that's going into different uh zip codes. 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:17.360 63136-63106 is one of the biggest zip codes that we're focusing on right now, and 63133, and that's where another FQHC that is no longer, you know, our organized right now. 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:22.879 So we're focused on those community members to make sure that they have the sources and needs that they that they may need. 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:25.040 So we focus on that right now. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:29.759 That's one of our biggest focuses, just to make sure that they have the health care and the resources. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:35.839 And we also have programs for youth and for men, for example. 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:52.639 So we have the community conversations that are led by our outreach team and behavioral health providers, so that uh men are have a good place to, you know, speak to each other, support each other in their journey for behavioral health. 00:07:52.800 --> 00:08:01.759 And uh, same thing with youth and making sure that they can connect with mentors and listen to each other and uh support each other. 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:04.560 Uh so those are just a couple of programs. 00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:09.759 Um we have the domestic violence program as well that we are focusing on too. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:14.959 So that's one of the biggest things that we're working on right now, too, is the domestic violence survivors. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:17.439 And you work with a women's safe house, right? 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:18.000 Correct. 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:18.240 Okay. 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:19.199 Great. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:21.199 Yeah, and you mentioned the community garden. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:30.000 So our community garden is called the Graham Community Garden, is located in the 63106 zip code where the whole history of our organization first started. 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:47.919 And currently the garden, the produce uh for the garden is uh which we just started this year, is primarily for patients who have diabetes or other very acute barriers to food because it's a limited amount of food that we're producing right now. 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:56.159 So we're really working hard to expand the garden, to grow the garden, and increase our reach with that resource. 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:57.919 But we also partner with the St. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:06.399 Louis Food Bank twice a month on the first Wednesday and first Friday of each month, unless there's a weather issue or something like that, it can shift the date. 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:11.360 Because food access and food is a huge barrier for our patients. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:17.840 Many of them live in food deserts, and as we all know, food is health, and we really work on that as well. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:25.679 So while Ophenia covers a lot of outreach for all these different services you're talking about, what unmet healthcare need in St. 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:27.919 Louis do you wish more people understood? 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:31.840 Well, I think just the need for people to really take care of themselves. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:36.720 I mean, that sounds very broad, but it's true because people put themselves last. 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:54.240 When they have, you know, family

members there and themselves, you know, they're they're struggling for food, they're struggling for paying their bills, keeping the lights on, staying housed, basically, they do not really put first, you know, their screenings, even taking their medications, renewing their prescriptions. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:59.440 You're gonna be here less for your family if you are not healthy or less for yourself. 00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:06.240 So really supporting people in being uh taking care of themselves and being healthy, I think that's really important. 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:08.159 People take prevention for granted. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:11.600 And we know what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, right? 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:19.600 So prevention is really key, taking care of our communities by taking care of ourselves and taking care of our families, I think is really important. 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:44.080 So just to give you just one quick example of affinia healthcare and our efficiency and our ability to do a lot for our patients with limited resources, that the cost of care for one patient, that's that's an average, uh, for a whole year is about$1,300. 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:50.720 And I think the healthcare system as a whole, things are much more expensive. 00:10:50.960 --> 00:11:05.120 One day of a pregnant woman uh or a postpartum woman having to go back to the hospital because of hypertension spikes and things like that can cost thousands of dollars. 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:08.559 Uh, to care for one occurrence of that is about$10,000. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:23.200 Instead, giving a pregnant woman a blood pressure self-monitoring device, which might be about$100,$150, and taking care of her needs throughout pregnancy, it can save all that and cost a lot less. 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:40.720 So programs like our uh group prenatal care, our blood pressure measuring, our um nurse midwife care, our doula care, all of those add up to healthy pregnancies, healthy babies, healthy futures. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:48.159 So I think it's all of that together that is so important to you know, prevention is really key. 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:51.840 And we we need support so that we can meet those needs. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:57.759 And I know that Candace probably is she's looking at me because she probably has like a thousand examples of the people she meets. 00:11:58.240 --> 00:11:59.679 I would love to hear an example. 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:01.840 Yes, there's a lot of examples. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:08.720 Yeah, I get a little emotional when I talk about those a lot of these stories because it's like what can we do to help them? 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:09.440 Right. 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:14.879 It's to have to see the pain and endorse the things that they go through. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:31.120 What can we do to be able to subside some of this from the families, whether it be the mom or the dad or the grandparents, because everybody is affected by whatever little minute thing may be to someone else, but it's huge to another family member. 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:39.679 So our biggest focus on for maternal health, to speak of maternal health, is to make sure that they have a safe place for baby to sleep. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:45.360 The support system with the doulas, with the midwives, to follow even after they have babies. 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:55.360 The postpartum care is a huge factor because a lot of times when they have the babies, they don't go back to their follow-up because they're focused on taking care of their baby, focused on taking care of home. 00:12:55.600 --> 00:13:03.039 Self-care is the number one thing because you have to be able to take care of yourself to support the family. 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:04.559 Let me ask a question. 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:12.960 Do you have like doctors, doula's, do they go visit like home visits uh for the patients? 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:27.519 And do you have like all these kind of what I consider more specialty doctors, whether it's an OBGYN, a gastroentinologist, any a specialty doctor within your organization at like all the locations, or is it special locations? 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:29.200 It's at all locations. 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:31.679 We have that's where the community health workers come in at. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:37.200 So the community health workers come in to do a piece to follow up with those social determinants of health. 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:39.440 But we have to know what it is that you need. 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:47.360 So we try to build that relationship and build that solid foundation so that you're able to tell me exactly what it is that you need so we can focus on it. 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:52.879 Now, if we don't focus on what they're telling us their needs are, then we've lost that trust and that communication. 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:54.960 And that's one of the things that we don't want to do. 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:58.000 Community health workers are a huge need right now. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:04.799 It's all over, whether they're a doula, whether they're doing postpartum follow-up, they are needed. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:23.039 We're not taking the place of social workers, but community health workers have that opportunity to go into the homes and maybe sit with them for an hour or two and maybe give them the education that they need as far as eating properly or properly feeding baby or the smaller children or older children and giving them the resources that they need. 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:28.159 So community health workers would be able to go in to help. 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:48.799 And I'll I'll say one more thing is Candace is a trained community health worker trainer, and currently she is training a group of community health workers that may or may not become affinity healthcare employees because once they finish that training, they may decide to be a community health worker

elsewhere. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:56.240 So, but the point is that those community health workers will be part of our community, will be part of helping others in that way. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:58.960 And uh if we could hire them all, we would. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:02.240 So that that's uh a really important program. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:07.759 That when you asked about programs that we have right now, is that community health worker training. 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:15.600 That particular training, because of the funding that we received for that training, is focused on the 24-1 area. 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:19.279 So we partnered with Beyond Housing for that training. 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:27.919 Earlier, Candace mentioned that we have lots of partners and we do the Urban League, the Junior League in terms of volunteers and that sort of thing. 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:44.080 Just so many, you know, Washington University, all the universities also with optometry, Easter Seals for speech, uh, language and audiology, and the Southside Wellness Center with a lot of seniors that we serve there, the public housing authority, St. 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:45.600 Patrick's Center, Salvation. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:49.440 I mean, I could just go on because our list is really, really long. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:50.799 The Assignment Center. 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:55.519 When you asked about specialties, we don't have all the specialties that exist. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:16:04.080 You know, our focus is more primary care, although we do have some services that are considered specialties, which I mentioned, including OBGYN. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:11.759 Some things that we do not have, we then handle by referral and really strong referral relationships. 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:17.840 But as much as we can, we try to bring those in in-house, such as uh chiropractic services, for example. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:31.600 So Logan University is also one of our partners and key in our treatment of pain, and uh partner with us in treatment for opioid uh substance use needs and things like that. 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:36.080 So, can you tell me about your family medicine residency program? 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:44.720 Yes, our family medicine residency program was launched in June of this year, so it's it's really new. 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:53.840 It's part of the Teaching Health Center model, whereby the training is led by Affinia Healthcare rather than by a hospital or academic institutions. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:58.320 You know, all doctors need to complete a residency before they can independently practice. 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:10.319 And this residency program is a three-year program, and residency programs have a limited number of participants that can be part of a residency just by the regulations. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:16.240 So only four residents per year in the first year are allowed by the regulations. 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:25.359 So the next year

we'll have eight, and the following year 12, and thereafter we will be graduating 12 family medicine providers. 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:27.759 That's awesome in these awesome every year. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:18:01.680 So there is a shortage of uh primary care providers and in particular of family medicine providers, not only in our region but across the country, and by training family medicine residents providers within our health care center environment in partnership with the hospital so that they will also practice at Christian Hospital, for example, that has that hospital has the highest rate of people that come there for non-emergent needs to for emergent care in the whole state of Missouri. 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:03.759 So there's huge need in that area. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:12.960 So our residency practice is located out of our Ferguson facility, and Christian Hospital is one of our partners for adult care. 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:26.319 For OBGYN, the poll hospital is our partner, and uh that includes those residents as well as our nurse midwives, our OBGYN providers and DULAs. 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:32.720 And uh for children, we also have the partnership with Senior Children's Hospital for that residency. 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:36.559 Uh AT Still University is our academic partner as well. 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:45.119 And there's the Missouri AHEC organization, so that's another partner in terms of the curriculum and academic partnerships that we have. 00:18:45.440 --> 00:19:18.960 We are also developing partnerships with rural care providers and other community health centers and uh hospitals, whereby the residents will get a very well-rounded exposure to both our needs in the urban area, especially in the milieu of the areas that we serve at Affinia Healthcare, where people have, you know, so many barriers, both economic and social needs, as well as other kinds of barriers that exist in the rural communities. 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:45.839 But having providers practice as they're learning as residents in our Ferguson location really is a unique experience in that we have an integrated care model so that they are from the get-go uh interacting with our behavioral health staff, for example, and learning about the substance use disorder needs and how they're managed from a primary care provider perspective. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:47.039 That's just one example. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:56.640 They're interacting with our OBGYN providers, and of course, as family medicine providers, that's uh something that they also need to be experts in. 00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:22.319 So they they have this whole well-rounded exposure, our WIC program, for example, all of these in-house services that we have, uh, we have there, we have lab and we have pharmacy and the access kinds of things like Medicaid, uh, for example, and and how that access impacts uh that coverage uh impacts access for people that we serve for the kind of care that they are going to provide as physicians. 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:51.680 So it's a very well-rounded program and grounded on our community services and also learning how to interact through our electronic medical records and face-to-face with our community health workers, outreach workers, and other key members of our team because they all have the opportunities to visit all of our locations and do other kind of hands-on work with our patient population. 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:52.799 That's wonderful. 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:57.599 Do you have anything else you want to talk about, Candace, about that program or another program? 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:00.559 I will touch base on the next cohort for the community health worker. 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:01.039 Oh, I love that. 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:03.039 Which is starting February the 2nd. 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:11.759 So there is a registration, there's a link that is on Afania website, so you can go onto there and click to sign up to become a community health worker within the communities. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:15.359 It doesn't matter what area you live in, to be able to participate. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:19.359 However, classes are held in the 24-1 area zip code. 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:22.400 So just make sure that you read all those good. 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.440 I love that. 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:24.400 I love that. 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:27.200 So, what other events do you have coming up? 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:35.599 We also have a blood drive coming up, and this is in partnership with the Red Cross as well as LifeWise SDL. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:37.680 Like I mentioned, you know, we have so many partners. 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:45.119 So the blood drive actually will take place at the LifeWise SDL Gym, and that is on November 20th from 1 to 5 p.m. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:22:05.039 You can go on our Facebook page or our Instagram, and we have a flyer posted there so that people can just go to the Red Cross website as well and find our location and sign up because there's a shortage of Of blood and is critical for so many reasons. 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:13.359 You know, some people have ongoing needs and some people have crises where having blood transfusions is really critical and important to them. 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:21.920 I will brag on Lily for a moment because Lily, I'm gonna have her say how many probably gallons of blood she's donated. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:26.160 I mean, she's like one of the top donors, I swear, in probably Missouri. 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:35.200 I don't think I'd go that far, but I did my last donation, which was a couple weeks ago, I hit five gallons since the start of COVID. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:38.160 So since 2020, I've donated five gallons of blood. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:39.599 And then prior to moving to St. 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:42.240 Louis, I donated another three plus gallons. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:46.319 So I'm at over eight, isn't that I wish I could.

00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:49.440 If I didn't have autoimmune diseases, I would. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:53.359 But I love that Lily does that because I feel like she does it for our community. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.640 She does it for all of us. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:57.279 I've got O-positive blood and everyone wants it. 00:22:59.279 --> 00:22:59.920 Thank you. 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:00.960 Thank you. 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:06.720 So unfortunately, I won't yet be eligible on November 20th, but I am scheduled to donate on December 1st. 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:09.839 Well, and some people can't donate, but they can spread the word. 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:15.039 They can come with somebody else and be their support person and hold their hand, and they can also donate. 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:16.160 Partners. 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:20.400 Um, we would also love for you all to be a partner with Aphenia. 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:34.000 And there's also a link that's on Aphenia website to where if you want us to come out to an event that you're hosting, Aphenia can definitely come if we have enough staff and the time is accordingly. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:40.960 We have 30 days to put your information on and we can see if we can come out to be a partner with you at your local events. 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:41.680 That's great. 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:42.240 I love that. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:48.319 And if you would like to join us as a staff person, we have employment opportunities also in our website. 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:56.400 If you go to affiniahealthcare.org and look for uh careers on that little tab there, you can see our job postings or you can go on LinkedIn. 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:59.440 We also post our uh employment opportunities there. 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:06.720 So people who are passionate about caring for others, and if your skills are a match with our needs, come on. 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:08.960 We want to have you be part of our need. 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.240 That's great. 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:15.839 So, what are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about community health centers like Affinia? 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:19.519 Well, one is that we do not need any funding or support. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:21.119 That's the biggest one. 00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:32.880 And people think that because we receive some federal funds, uh, which in fact for Affinia Healthcare is just a little over 20% of our budget, but people think it's all of our funding or most of it. 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:40.240 And they also think that most people who have lower incomes have Medicaid, and that is also not the case. 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:52.079 So about 78-80% of our patients have incomes below 100% of poverty because of the new regulations that go into effect in January 1st. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:25:02.799 There's been a lot of cuts to Medicaid and a lot of new regulations in place that make it really difficult for people to maintain continuous coverage, even when they're eligible. 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:07.759 Maintenance of the coverage is really a great challenge because you have to report a lot. 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:13.039 So the biggest misconception, again, just to kind of circle back to your question, is that we're fully funded, we're not. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:15.839 We need a lot of support. 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:22.240 So we appeal to uh anyone in the community who would like to donate and support our mission. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:23.920 As you can see, it goes far and wide. 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:37.359 We didn't even talk about chronic conditions, and we have a whole team of staff that include nurses that are community health nurses and others that work with our patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease and asthma and other chronic conditions. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:51.519 There, they are met needs and the needs of our patients and the needs of support for us to continue to deliver on our mission and meet the gaps and grow because the need exceeds our resources. 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.720 It is really great. 00:25:52.880 --> 00:26:01.440 So people can visit our website, affiniahealthcare.org slash donate if they want to join us in our mission. 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:07.920 And I'm sure you can, you know, share this a little bit better than I just did, but we we really need that support. 00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:12.640 Well, let me ask you, I guess, or I should just say, have you talk about this? 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:20.880 I think a lot of people don't realize that there's a lot of not even insured people, but underinsured people. 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:24.240 And I I refer Affinia Healthcare all the time. 00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:32.720 And they think, well, I'm not below the poverty level, but let's say you have two part-time jobs, like, or they have no dental insurance. 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:36.559 And I say, well, you should go to Affinia Healthcare, and they don't know that. 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:41.039 I don't feel people like know that Affinia Healthcare does all this. 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:49.519 And and I I want people to know about it because they have excellent doctors and excellent people who work with this Affinia Healthcare. 00:26:49.680 --> 00:27:00.400 And I think a lot of people think even if I wanted to go and I have 100% insurance, I could still, if I found a doctor that I loved, I could go to Affinia Healthcare. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:04.160 I would just pay a different level than obviously other people. 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:08.799 And I'd like you to talk about that because I don't think a lot of people realize that. 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:16.480 Things where like you're not insured or you're very underinsured. 00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:21.519 And so I want people to know that they can they can go to you for services. 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:29.039 Well, there is a sliding scale fee, so it is based off of your income once you

come in and provide proof of income. 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:33.759 So registration and our billing department will work with you on that. 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:41.200 And if you don't have the insurance or you're underinsured when you come in for your appointment, we will definitely send you over to our outreach department. 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:45.039 So you will not be leaving any Affinia location without seeing an outreach worker. 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:47.599 That's why we fill out that paperwork that you need. 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:48.400 Great. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:54.559 Yes, and not only that, our quality is amazing as you stated. 00:27:54.799 --> 00:28:04.160 Beth Ann, and in fact, Affinia Healthcare, we are very proud to be the only joint commission accredited community health center in the St. 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:05.200 Louis region. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:12.000 Joint Commission is the same accreditation entity that accredits hospitals where not mandated to have this accreditation. 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:18.799 We pursue this on our own, and we are proud to continuously have received this accreditation for many years. 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:28.319 In addition to that, this year we received the Gold Award for Quality from the Missouri Primary Care Association for our clinical outcomes. 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:35.599 And we're also NCQA, which is the National Council on Quality Assurance, accredited as a healthcare home. 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:35.920 Yes. 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:55.119 And anyway, so those are just some of the ways in which we uh let the community know that we are uh have high quality, and we also have the highest rating, platinum rating, from candid in terms of our transparency for donors and funders. 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:58.400 So if you go to candid, you can see our platinum seal. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:12.000 So when you donate to Affinia Healthcare, you can do that with utmost confidence that your donation will help someone and they will receive high quality services, and that's open to everyone. 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:16.640 Well, that is amazing, all those accreditations that you've earned. 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:20.880 So, what are Affinia's biggest priorities and challenges right now? 00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:26.480 And looking ahead in the next five to 10 years, what do you anticipate it evolving to be? 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:33.680 So, one of our highest priorities right now is meeting the needs of the community where there is really a great gap. 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:37.359 So there's a community health center that essentially closed down. 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:46.079 There are no longer a UHC in our region, and that's approximately 16,000 individuals who lost a healthcare home. 00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:59.599 So we are very focused on that and in looking for the resources, financial resources to support that continuous uh care for those additional patients who need us. 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:29.359 Also, just continue to grow our various initiatives which focus on maternal child health, uh care for the unhoused, care for our patients who live in public housing, nutrition-based services because food insecurity as well as nutrition needs are overarching in terms of everybody's quality of life and prevention care, but also patients with chronic needs and the needs of children. 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:33.039 So, I mean, you mentioned you asked a little bit about our mobile services. 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:46.000 Our mobile medical visits approximately 30 schools in our region where the children, most of them are part of the free breakfast or lunch programs because of the family incomes. 00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:53.839 And also our mobile dental services go to the schools in our region because dental care is a huge need. 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:56.960 So, and those are not just screenings. 00:30:57.119 --> 00:31:18.720 At the schools, we provide full exams, sometimes even spirometry for asthma, depending on the need there, as well as the immunizations and school physicals for uh sport physicals as well, and a mobile dental if the kids during the exams have gravities and findings, with all of this is of course with parent consent. 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:23.519 We return back to the school to do full treatment for those children. 00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:31.359 So we actually do baby crowns, baby root canals, uh extractions when needed, spacers uh for the children. 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:34.240 So there's a whole range of treatment that goes on. 00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:42.559 So continues uh continue to grow to care of our children in many ways, including what I just mentioned, is really a high priority. 00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:44.559 Where are the eight locations? 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:45.839 You said there were eight locations. 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:52.480 I want the listeners to know where they are in case they would like to volunteer or drop off supplies or anything. 00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:59.200 We are currently located at 1717 Biddle, Florison at the corner of North Florence and North Grand. 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:03.839 We're at South Broadway location, our limp location. 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:08.640 We are currently at Ferguson location, which is next door to the YMCA. 00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:12.799 If you're familiar with the West Floreson and 270 area, Ferguson area. 00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:15.680 And we are also in Pagedale. 00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:17.759 The 24-1. 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:19.200 24-1 area. 00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:26.880 Yes, yeah, and we also have, you know, we our mobile services are counted as a location in terms of our scope. 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:29.599 And also at the St. 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:33.599 Louis Dental Center, uh, which is 1500 Park. 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:35.519 And our Hadley location. 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:36.400 Hadley location. 00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:51.359 Yeah, and so our location at Hadley, that is at

63106 uh location, that is where a lot of services are sort of based out of our call center, our community garden, chronic care team is based off there. 00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:55.519 So it's a location that that is the base for several things as well. 00:32:56.319 --> 00:33:04.480 So if somebody listening wants to help ANIA Healthcare tomorrow, what is the best way for them to get started, whether through donations or volunteer? 00:33:04.880 --> 00:33:07.839 Well, donations is certainly pretty instantaneous. 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:14.799 So people can visit our website and again affinia healthcare.org slash donate. 00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:18.400 And there's a whole menu of ways to donate. 00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:30.000 There's a listing of our needs that kind of exemplify that it's not exhaustive, but it does give people some idea what needs they can be met at different levels of giving. 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:33.759 People can give any amount, it doesn't even have to be any of the amounts listed there. 00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:36.880 You know, there's people can put in whatever they would like to support. 00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:39.599 And also volunteering. 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:48.559 So there is a uh if you kind of scroll down towards near the bottom of the page, you'll see the volunteer opportunity page, and people can sign up to be a volunteer. 00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:58.880 So there's a sign-up uh application, it's pretty brief, and then we'll connect back with you according to what your wishes are in terms of your skills and talents. 00:33:59.039 --> 00:34:04.559 Um, we're also starting a food drive very soon, so people should watch out for that. 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:09.760 It's our holiday food drive, and we will be launching a toy drive as well. 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:10.480 Awesome. 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.679 Wonderful. 00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:16.880 Um, I was gonna ask, do you have a lot of companies that come and volunteer with you? 00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:18.960 Everyone is welcome. 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:27.679 So no matter where you work, a lot of employers will have a program where people can use a day or a couple of days to volunteer. 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:41.280 So if your employer has that kind of benefit, please use it and uh let us know in your volunteer application so that we know that uh you know we can kind of talk to you about how to structure that day. 00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:42.559 Wonderful. 00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:49.280 Well, if you could leave our listeners with one piece of advice for living a more intentional, elevated life, what would it be? 00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:51.119 You both can answer. 00:34:52.159 --> 00:35:01.199 I would say have an open ear for the community for their needs, because a lot of community members feel like they're being unheard. 00:35:01.599 --> 00:35:06.639 So when you hear different needs from communities, whether it be North St. 00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:07.440 Louis, South St. 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:13.199 Louis, North County, their cry out is is is loud, but it's not being heard. 00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:19.440 Um, and I think that Athena is a huge advocate for those community members. 00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:21.039 We're gonna be the voice for them. 00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:24.079 So that would be the biggest thing. 00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:34.239 And I think that when you help the most disenfranchised, the people most in need, it it really fills your heart the most as well. 00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:45.679 And just helping one person, if you just look around you, if it's your neighbor or reach out to us and help people through us, you know, I think that's there's nothing more fulfilling than that. 00:35:46.239 --> 00:35:47.519 Yeah, I agree. 00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:48.320 Yeah, I agree. 00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:49.519 Great. 00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:52.800 Is there anything else you would like to tell the listeners? 00:35:52.960 --> 00:36:09.360 You have the mic, so so as being um boots on the ground sort of figure, the community that we serve at Athemia, one of their biggest needs is their housing, utilities. 00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:23.360 These are things where we have resources and partners, or however, there's so much of a huge need to where when we give them referrals and send them and there's nothing for them, they get discouraged. 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:40.960 And one of my things is what can we do as Athenea and whole to make this obsolete and be able to have the funding there to assist the needs that they are requiring because with that, they're not focused on their health. 00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:57.440 And that's a huge piece that we don't really get a chance to focus on because a family is focused on where they're gonna get the next pair of shoes for their baby, where their baby has a coat or a hat for the winter, or even vehicle problems, things like that. 00:36:58.239 --> 00:37:02.800 And we really want to focus on their health so that they'll be able to focus on those needs. 00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:13.840 So funding would be one of my biggest concerns overall, just not just with the penia, but as the community, because the community is in dire need. 00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:20.320 Yeah, that reminds me of a quote I saw recently that when you're healthy, you have a million problems, and when you're sick, you only have one. 00:37:20.480 --> 00:37:20.880 Yes. 00:37:21.280 --> 00:37:21.840 That's true. 00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:23.199 That's very true. 00:37:23.760 --> 00:37:27.280 And I think advocacy is something else that people can do. 00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:47.519 So uh make sure you contact your elected officials, look at bills and and things like that that are out there that are supportive of meeting people's needs, whether it's health care or the social determinants of health, their social justice needs, and uh those kind of everyday needs as well. 00:37:47.840 --> 00:37:55.760 I'd like to say, after listening to the three of you, I say this all the time, and I truly mean this, and I want the listeners to really think about this. 00:37:56.239 --> 00:38:09.039 But I think that health care is a basic human need, and it's a basic human right in our country, and I feel that every single person deserves health care and good health care. 00:38:09.199 --> 00:38:12.480 And it doesn't matter where you live, you deserve it. 00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:27.679 And so I really feel that that's an important piece to, like you said, Candace, to being able to solve the other problems is once you're healthy, you feel, you feel good, feel great, you can conquer the other. 00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:28.639 Absolutely. 00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:32.800 Well, thank you for joining us today, Candace and Yvonne. 00:38:32.960 --> 00:38:37.519 If today's conversation inspired you to get involved, this is a great place to start. 00:38:37.679 --> 00:38:50.880 If you'd like to stay up to date on the organizations we feature, learn more about how you can get involved or find upcoming volunteer opportunities, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Elevate with Purpose 314. 00:38:51.199 --> 00:38:55.360 And if there's an organization you think we should feature, we'd love to hear from you. 00:38:55.599 --> 00:39:03.039 Send us an email to elevate with purpose314 at gmail.com and then let us know who you'd like to see on our show. 00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:11.760 Thank you again for listening to Elevate with Purpose, where we elevate purpose, amplify hope, and strengthen the spirit across the 314 and beyond. 00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:14.159 Until next time, I'm Beth Ann. 00:39:14.239 --> 00:39:14.559 Thank you. 00:39:14.719 --> 00:39:15.519 We'll see you next time. 00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:17.360 And hi, Russell and Bennett.