Sonia Deal
RN, MSN, LNHA, CHCEF
Affinia Healthcare
St. Louis, MO
Pattonville Senior High
SIU Edwardsville, BSN & MSN
American Nurses Association
Long Term Care Educators Association
Sigma Theta Tau
Community Health Center Executive Fellow
BALSA Foundation
VWISE
In short, what do you do?
I lead the planning, implementation, and management of Affinia Healthcare’s Healthcare Home initiative. I monitor provision of wellness, educational, and prevention initiatives for patients enrolled in our Primary Health Home. I am responsible for coordinating and creating programs to improve our patients overall physical and mental health. I supervise our Maternal Child Community Health Programs (Centering and Parenting, and Infant Mortality initiatives). I provide supervision and oversight for navigation of quality initiatives with MCO plans. I also collaborate with several community organizations to increase community resources for patients and improve overall quality of health for all patients.
How do you balance the need for both improved patient care and increased profitability in a clinical setting?
Affinia Healthcare is a non-profit health center with a mission to “provide high quality health care and exceptional service, while promoting healthy lifestyles.” We have created programs that improve patient care and impact the organizations’ bottom line, such as mammography and urgent care services. We align with community agencies to provide resources and services to our patients. Health centers such as Affinia Healthcare, has incentives to keep our patients healthy. Through our programs and collaborations, we improve quality health care measures, improve quality of patient’s lives, and are able to obtain incentive funding for reaching/maintaining healthcare quality measures.
What were your top takeaways from the Community Health Center Executive Fellowship that you recently completed?
The Community Health Center Executive Fellowship has helped me to understand the importance of strategic planning, and value the significance of developing relationships with community partners. It has prepared me to take charge of matters that affect the clinical and financial sustainability at Affinia Healthcare, and in the community at large. I have lead strategic planning processes for departments I supervise, and I have been involved in our organization’s strategic planning process. I continue to collaborate with community organizations to broaden community resources, and work to address challenges as they arise with the changes in healthcare.
You’re also a Captain in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. What lessons from your military service do you most often apply professionally?
The Army trains every soldier on the Army Values which include: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Honor, Integrity, Selfless Service, and Personal Courage. I believe that I carry these values with me, no matter what circle I am in. While they all hold their place, I believe that the value I most often apply is “Selfless Service.” I put the needs of my patients, families, and staff before my own. I attempt to set everyone up for success, whether it is in their personal or professional lives. For me, Selfless Service is the gateway to these remaining values.
