With the holiday season upon us, it’s traditionally a time of year for reflection and to give thanks. As I write this I can’t help but reflect on the warm reception my family and I have received from the community since my arrival in June as the new president of Christian Hospital. I am very grateful for that and welcome this opportunity to do my part, along with the rest of the St. Louis metropolitan health care community, in the bigger picture of keeping our residents in the bi-state region healthy through population health.
The role that hospitals play in the community is evolving and changing. We think of hospitals as places to go when we get sick and associate them with illness more than wellness. I am one of the people in the industry working to change that. I envision hospitals as being community hubs – places that facilitate interactions between medical professionals and the community, along with local organizations and resources – to promote health and wellness.
The impact of a hospital extends far beyond the four walls of a building – from food and shelter, job training, smoking cessation classes to weight management and exercise programs, literacy programs and so many other resources that ultimately improve the long-term health of communities.
Studies show that most of one’s health can be attributed to non-medical factors such as social, behavioral and environmental influences. In fact, experts tell us that 80 percent of health is driven by these non-medical aspects. In other words, health care is only 20 percent of the health equation, which I believe is a call to action for hospitals to take a broad population health stance.
I truly believe that hospitals can be change agents through our role as good neighbors and large employers within our communities to act as catalysts – working with community-based groups, health departments and public health organizations – to improve and sustain the health of our residents. The federally mandated community health needs assessment process can provide a forum for enhanced collaboration between hospitals and their partners.
We have a responsibility to redefine our target populations to include not just the patients who come to us, but everyone within our geographic communities, and broaden our scope of action to include impacting non-medical elements of health.
I look forward to communicating with you periodically in The St. Louis American and wish everyone a healthy and happy holiday season!
Rick Stevens is president of Christian Hospital.
