Page 30 - FOCUS-Spring 2022-FINAL-for flipbook-hi-res_Neat

b o n s e c o u r s m e r c y h e a l t h
s The Bon Secours Care-A-Van provides
free general medical care to uninsured
adults and children in the Hampton
Roads communities of Virginia.
Bon Secours Mercy Health even other local health systems

to bring multiple perspectives
Embraces Its Communities together, with the goal being to

identify the root causes of these
issues in each market in order

BON SECOURS MERCY HEALTH HAS AT THE CORE OF ITS MISSION A to effect change in an integrated
and effective way.
BROAD UNDERSTANDING OF HEALTH THAT EMBRACES A HOLISTIC
APPROACH TO WELL-BEING, FOCUSING ON THE MIND, BODY AND One example of how a problem
W Community health needs assessments are done in prostate cancer in Lima, Ohio. With incidence rates and
SPIRIT AND NOT JUST ILLNESS. was approached was the
campaign to raise awareness of
e understand that there are more than just medical ailments
that plague a community but rather many underlying social
each community to ensure that programs are meeting
mortality rates higher than the state average, the need
factors such as economic status, education and housing that are
community-identified needs and that evidence-based
to address the 14% PSA screening rate among African
also health determinants,” says Shivonne Laird, system director of
community engagement is being measured.
Community Health Impact for Bon Secours Mercy Health.
22% for the county) was identified by the local community
From health care screenings and American males (compared to the overall testing rate of
as a market priority. “Our team partnered with Allen
Historically at Bon Secours Mercy Health, more than $2 million a health education to access to care, County to launch an integrated prostate cancer initiative
day of its operating funds has been dedicated to assuring the people early childhood education, workforce that included education and individual health needs
in the communities served don’t have cost as a barrier to access health development, advocacy, transportation assessments, coordinating prostate screenings and
care and supporting community health through various programs and so much more, Bon Secours Mercy connecting people to care providers as needed while
and initiatives. The health system invests additional monies through Health aims to be an integral part of all encouraging shared decision-making. We leveraged
its Direct Community Investment Program to provide low-cost loans its communities with its ultimate goal partnerships with community leaders and held
for infrastructure such as affordable housing and food availability,
and Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation continually invests in to support better health care outcomes. neighborhood block parties in economically distressed
areas to help everyone with relevant social health needs,”
a variety of programs in its communities. Every three years a community health needs assessment
says Shivonne.
document for each market is published and made
“The basis of our community initiatives stems directly from the needs
available to the public.
of various stakeholders with the goal being to address needs identified
by communities,” says Shivonne. “In each market, we work closely with Major areas of concern that have recently been Bon Secours Mercy Health is committed to
community leaders, local health departments, businesses, policymakers identified in multiple markets are behavioral/mental understanding the needs of its communities
and what drives health care outcomes so
and community residents.
‘‘ OUR PARTNERSHIPS ARE TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS AT THE HEART OF ALL diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart failure, it can, along with its community partners,
health, including the opioid crisis, and chronic
help to create meaningful change and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and maternal
WE DO. WE GET INPUT FROM OUR PARTNERS ON NOT ONLY WHAT IS
advocate for those most in need of its
hypertension. Local community health leaders from
NEEDED BUT THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS CONCERNS.”
— SHIVONNE LAIRD
Bon Secours Mercy Health work in tandem with
clinical leaders, community partners and sometimes care and intervention.

28 29