Keeping alive a tradition of public health in St. Louis
By Meliqueica Meadows Of the St. Louis American
St. Louis ConnectCare stands as a vital link between this city’s past as a nationally known health care Mecca and the present. And this year marks the 10th anniversary of the organization’s service to the community.
Although ConnectCare is only 10 years old, its roots go back to 1918 when St. Louis City created a hospital for African Americans, Homer G. Phillips (named for the African-American attorney who led the charge to build and develop the hospital). The goal was to not only treat African-American patients but to also use Homer G. as a training ground for minority health care professionals from across the country.
When the legendary hospital closed in 1979, patients were transferred to Max C. Starkloff City Hospital. And when that facility’s doors closed a few years later, city and county officials created St. Louis Regional Medical Center. But that, too, closed in 1997, leaving a health-care void for city residents and laying the ground work for the creation of St. Louis ConnectCare, whose Delmar campus is located in the former St. Louis Regional Medical Center.
“Since its creation in 1997, Saint Louis ConnectCare has served as a vital safety net for our community by providing primary, specialty and urgent care services,” said Michael DeHaven, senior vice president and general counsel at BJC HealthCare and a member of the ConnectCare board.
St. Louis ConnectCare president and CEO Melody Eskridge said it is her mission to “dispel the myth that anything you can get for free is not worth it.”
“Our physician and referral service is equal to the quality you would receive in private care,” Eskridge said. “Plus, its easier to navigate and closer to home.”
St. Louis ConnectCare is the only community health center providing specialty and urgent care in the city. Accredited by the AAAHC (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care) as an ambulatory health center, ConnectCare’s mission is to provide quality health care services to the uninsured and under-insured. The center houses the only stand-alone endoscopy center in the city and is under contract to handle the city’s STD treatment services as well.
“St. Louis ConnectCare is an integral partner who delivers service to the indigent population,” said Jim Buford, ConnectCare board member and president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.
At the seventh annual Salute to Excellence in Health Care Luncheon, the St. Louis American Foundation will honor St. Louis Connect Care with the Community Health Provider of the Year Award.
“We are honored that the St. Louis American Foundation has recognized St. Louis ConnectCare for their contribution to the health care community,” Buford said.
Eskridge said the services ConnectCare provides are possible because “so many employees are dedicated to its mission” and because of strategic community partnerships with organizations like BJC HealthCare, which in 1998 agreed to assist with the management of ConnectCare during the organization’s first five years of operation.
“At BJC HealthCare, we look forward to continuing to work with Saint Louis ConnectCare leaders to explore and develop innovative solutions in response to the changing needs of our region,” said DeHaven.
A certified public accountant by training, Eskridge said her stint at ConnectCare is the “best work experience I’ve ever had.” She hopes the same can be said for generations of ConnectCare employees.
“The St. Louis Business Journal has a list of the best businesses to work for,” said Eskridge. “I’d like us to ne on that list.”
“I hope to see ConnectCare continue to grow,” said Terri Dehne, chief operating officer of clinical services. “The main thing for us is to stay focused on the community. As long as we do that, we’ll continue to grow.”