We want those who have experienced the struggles we’re trying to address to have a voice, provide their points of view and suggest solutions that will support them best. At our organization, we want to not only look at the data, but also hear directly from the individuals we are trying to support. Oftentimes, the health care industry or politicians look at the data and decide what’s right for the community or specific populations. Broadly, one of the things we want to push through is leveraging lived experiences into how we care for individuals.Thirty-six months later, they were able to open a bank account and maintain that stable environment.Īre there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve? The patient was able to complete treatment while being housed, which had a huge impact on their ability to be treated and recover. So, we connected them to services that were able to find them a long-term apartment. From that conversation, we found out that they were homeless and living in a shelter. Normally, you would just treat them for the cancer, but our clinical team asked the patient about their food and housing situation. Yes, we recently had a patient who had screened positive for cancer and was getting care in our facilities. This type of holistic care not only has a huge impact on an individual and community level, but also long term impact in the sense of emergency department use and overall health care costs.Ĭan you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause? When individuals come to us, instead of only asking what their symptoms are, we ask questions like, “Do you have a home?”, “Do you struggle with food insecurity?”, “Do you have purpose in your life?” and then connect patients to the resources that can help meet their needs. This could be anything from housing to transportation access, safety, isolation and more. These factors, called social determinants of health, are essentially the conditions and environments in which individuals live, learn, work, play, etc. We go beyond clinical care by looking at how factors outside of a doctor’s office or hospital can affect overall health and well-being. Our mission at ProMedica’s National Social Determinants of Health Institute is to redefine what we view as health care as a country. While some may not appreciate the gesture in the moment, they will likely come to appreciate that you made the effort to truly connect and empathize.Ĭan you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact? So the biggest lesson there for me was, when you have to make tough decisions or deliver tough news, it’s really about staying true to your authentic self even if it feels awkward at the time. But while it was an awkward moment, it truly came from a place of love and empathy. She, understandably, was not in the mood to be consoled by me. Right after the first time I had to deliver the bad news, I went to console the director of the organization who we had just told was not receiving funding. Those meetings are very tough, and very tense. But on the flip side, one of the worst parts about working at a foundation is that you also have to tell someone that they are not getting funding. When you work for a foundation, one of the great parts of your role is being able to tell someone that their organization is receiving funding. One story that sticks out to me is when I was working for a foundation. After her training, we were able to connect her to the right opportunity, which led to her being hired.Ĭan you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that? One example in particular is a single mother who we were able to put through State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA) training. Most recently, the stories that have been most impactful to me is how our organization is helping individuals, specifically single moms, find employment to support their families. In my line of work, I have the privilege of witnessing something amazing almost daily. As someone who now has the position to provide support to individuals, families and communities, I feel extremely lucky to be personally connected to this work.Ĭan you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization? I wanted to give opportunities for a better, healthier life to underserved communities. Because of them and my experience growing up, I always knew that I wanted to work with families and kids. My parents, who were foster parents, played a huge role in my career path. Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
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