Whether you knew the health center as the “Florence Hill” site, the “St. Louis Comp” site, or the “Homer G” site – it is official: all locations of Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive Health Centers now have one new, simple name and focus: CareSTL Health.
The rebranding was about three years in the making, first initiated to clear up confusion as the organization made acquisitions over the years.
“It was really about rebranding so that our patients and our community would know that we are one organization,” said Angela Clabon, CEO of CareSTL Health.
“In 2005, we acquired Florence Hill and Homer G. Phillips, which were free clinics from the City of St. Louis, and once we acquired them, people really had a confusion about Myrtle Hilliard. They really thought Florence Hill was a different entity, Homer G. Phillips Health Center was definitely not part of our organization, and Myrtle Hilliard was called ‘Myrtle Hilliard Davis’ or they’d call us ‘St. Louis Comp.’”
Clabon said the one identity as CareSTL Health is a true representation of who they are and what they do as they work to re-engage patients and the community.
She said their feedback from surveys was “Myrtle Hilliard really cared – their employees go above and beyond.”
CareSTL Health marks a new chapter in the 48-year history of the federally qualified health center (FQHC). Its previous name honored a retiring chief executive officer, the late Myrtle Hilliard Davis, affectionately known as “Ms. D.” The health center was founded under the name of “St. Louis Comprehensive Neighborhood Health Center,” which started as a training facility for healthcare professionals in the African-American community.
Clabon said she is excited about the opportunity to re-engage patients and the community, to reshape perceptions and to attract new patients – including expansion into school-based health clinics and telehealth services.
“We spread into school-based health services; we acquired Jennings and we have a contract to move out to Hazelwood and Riverview [Gardens], and we definitely wanted to have our brand standards established before we take over that endeavor,” she said. “Our slogan is: ‘We care.’ We care about our patients, our communities and our partnerships.”
CareSTL Health also created a foundation to raise funds for facilities improvements, including a new administration building on Martin Luther King Drive and two state-of-the-art CareSTL Health facilities on Riverview Boulevard and Whittier Avenue.
“The goal of the foundation is to raise money to help us replace our antiquated facilities – Homer G. Phillips and Florence Hill,” Clabon said, adding that the organization plans to collaborate with some of its partners to help revitalize blighted communities in the area.
“Housing is a huge issue,” Clabon said – as is making sure there are small businesses surrounding its health centers. She said they expect to roll out something about the foundation in the next few months. It will be run by Clabon and Jason Ware, CareSTL Health’s program director.
“I felt that community health centers took a beating during the election period – we struggled and we really had to minimize access to care,” Clabon said. “But I really want the community to know that we do care and we are here and we will always be here.”
