A study by the Pew Research Center finds that most Americans say it's a good thing that the country has a diverse population, but they nevertheless have complex views about
the impact of diversity and the best way to
achieve it. Learn more here.
|
|
Share your Story
In preparation for Casa de Salud's 10th anniversary, we are collecting stories about how Casa has touched people's lives.
Do you have a story to share? Click through to privately submit your story in English or in Spanish.
|
|
Patient Profile
In January of this year, "Milagros" was referred to our GUIA Program for a prosthesis. She had undergone amputation in early 2018, and her application to receive the prosthesis through Medicaid had been denied.
Milagros' GUIA case manager promptly began the search for alternatives. In the past, GUIA had successfully referred a patient for a prosthesis through a local organization. However, Milagros did not qualify.
But the case manager kept digging and eventually came across a non-profit called Limbs for Life, an organization dedicated to "fully-functional prosthetic care for individuals who cannot otherwise afford it." Here, Milagros met all eligibility requirements to apply.
She began the application process in February of 2019. In addition to the application, a lot of supporting documentation was needed and there was a 120 day waiting period due to a high volume of applicants. Throughout this time, the case manager continued coordinating with the clinic that would provide the prosthesis.
Finally, in early August, Milagros' application with Limbs for Life was approved. Milagros is now scheduled to obtain her completed prosthesis after over a year and a half with limited mobility.
|
Volunteer Spotlight
This month our spotlight shines on Karla Herrera.
Karla is a Vincentian Mission Corps (VMC) volunteer who will be at Casa for a year-long program. She is a recent graduate of Austin College where she triple majored in Public Health, Spanish, and English. At Austin, she was involved in the Catholic Student Association and the Student Ambassador program.
She also participated in two Alternative Spring Breaks - one in San Marcos, TX and the other in Lafayette, LA - to help rebuild houses in areas affected by flood damage. She described it as "such a rewarding experience to help others, live in community, and work with volunteers from other organizations."
Karla is from Dallas but moved to Missouri for the VMC program, which is based here in St. Louis. The organization was founded to promote the charitable works of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. Participants commit to living in community with other young adults in the program and take a job placement at a local charity or non-profit that serves the poor.
The VMC offers Karla the opportunity to explore her faith and put her education into practice, all while preparing to pursue a Master's Degree in Public Health by gaining experience in a healthcare environment and utilizing her Spanish fluency at Casa. It's a perfect fit, says Karla. "I'm ecstatic to be a part of a group that is innovative in their mission to advocate for the uninsured and underinsured."
|
|
Supporting Casa
We are very thankful to the
Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis and
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
for
their generous donations to Casa de Salud.
You can mail a check to our office at 3200 Chouteau Avenue, St. Louis, 63103. You can give online
through our website
.
Your generosity makes Casa de Salud the premier resource for affordable and quality care for the foreign-born community in the St. Louis region!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2019
Casa de Salud is pleased to share its Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2019.
The report details the work of our clinic, case management program, and Mental Health Collaborative to provide high quality, low-cost healthcare to a growing number of foreign-born men and women who make up a vibrant part of our St. Louis community. You can read it by
clicking here.
|
|
New Faces at the MHC
The incubator program at the Mental Health Collaborative, where we provide space and back office support to therapists in exchange for their commitment to have at least a quarter of their caseload consist of Casa patients, has been very successful so far. We are happy to welcome the most recent addition to the program,
Eileen Cheong, LPC.
Eileen Cheong, LPC
Eileen is
a Registered Art Therapist who specializes in using mindfulness techniques including guided visualizations and social dreaming. As a trained yoga instructor, Eileen also provides skill building in breathwork to counter anxiety and depression. She uses relational-cultural approaches to wellness, youth empowerment, LGBTQGNC issues, mental health awareness, and group therapy for families and couples.
The MHC also has a new cohort of seven
master's-level therapists interning this fall. They will be working with
four partners: Saint Louis University Medical Family Therapy, Lutheran Family and Children Services, St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute, and Mercy Professional Services. These therapists in training represent the social work programs at Saint Louis University, University of Missouri - St. Louis, and Washington University's Brown School.
|
|
Friends of Casa
FOC's annual trivia night is just days way!
|
|
Provider Anniversaries
Casa is grateful to the
following medical providers, who celebrate their anniversaries with us this month:
Julie Albsmeyer, PA - 4 years
Donald Blum, MD - 7 years
Nancy Enger, ANP - 4 years
Gordon Goldman, MD - 6 years
John Kelly, MD - 7 years
Dori Lingle, FNP - 4 years
Gary Myers, MD - 1 year
Larry Newell, MD - 3 years
Marcos Rothstein, MD - 9 years
|
Letter from the President
One of Casa de Salud's top value propositions is the "navigation" we provide through the Guides for Understanding, Information, & Access (GUIA) program. Paid case managers and trained volunteers work together to help patients navigate the extremely complex and often opaque healthcare system when they need treatment that can't be provided in a primary care setting at Casa.
Casa built its program on evidence-based results. As early as 2011,
research showed that patient navigators could aid in eliminating health disparities and did especially well in the areas of prevention and early detection, access and care coordination, and cultural competency.
The efficacy of navigating clients goes beyond healthcare. A
recent article in the New York Times describes how a program in Seattle called
Creating Moves to Opportunity provides a "housing navigator" who helps low-income families find homes in better neighborhoods, while also negotiating with landlords and helping to pay security deposits. This assistance costs an average of only $2,600 per household and has had a stunning effect: Families were almost four times as likely to successfully move to neighborhoods with better opportunities.
Imagine the impact, then, that greater use of navigators could have in healthcare. Last year, Casa's small program alone was able to navigate over 700 patients and maintain a show rate of 73%, much higher than show rates of
as low as 50%. That means our navigated patients actually got treatment, and the healthcare system avoided the waste of resources that occurs when patients don't keep their appointments.
Lawmakers should take a close look at the outcomes and cost savings opportunities made possible by using navigators and work to establish a program that measures and funds successful efforts. Public/private partnerships are also an option. Our healthcare system is not going to become simpler anytime soon, so let's use a proven tool to help patients help themselves.
Jorge Riopedre
President & CEO, Casa de Salud
|
|
|
