CLEARLAKE>>> Director of well-being and engagement for Adventist Health, Don Smith, was joined by Director of Specialty Clinics Jared Chapman, at this week’s judge’s breakfast on Thursday in Clearlake. The pair gave an update on the general well-being of our community and what they are doing to improve it.
Smith asked “What is well being?” Describing it as “living a mission of health, wholeness, and hope”, Smith noted the importance of one’s’ own well being. Smith’s position is focused on their 800 plus employees, ensuring that their staff has the right social, mental, and economic skills to live out that mission. Smith said,“If you have healthy, engaged employees you are going to have a great relationship and a more positive experience.” Internally Adventist performs staff surveys in order to constantly meet the needs of their staffing and by extension, the community.
Smith transitioned the conversation by speaking about the community’s health assessment process. “Making sure that our employees are connected to the work they are doing, and that they themselves are taken care of, but then there’s community well-being and engagement.” Every three years they conduct a public survey that helps them get a “glimpse into what the actual needs in our community are.”
This past year was their largest most comprehensive assessment yet due to their ability to outreach to more of the county than ever before. The CHNA illustrated that the top three priorities are access to care, mental health, and risk factors. In addressing the access to care, Adventist has opened a rapid care center in Lakeport and also began some mobile services. In addressing risk factors they consulted with Blue Zones and have invested over one million dollars into their Blue Zones Project. Blue Zones is only one of the many partners that Adventist collaborates with.
The Blue Zones Project is a community well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to environment, policy, and social networks.
Chapman shared the some of the ways in which Adventist passively, intentionally and actively engages with the community. There are many ways in which Adventist actively engages from providing transportation for medical appointments to moving their shower trailer around the county and also creating and sharing their new mobile dental clinic which brings care straight to a patient and has been successfully used for over four months.
Chapman added, “Some may not have access to these services otherwise.” Moving forward Chapman noted “There is a large need for mental health services.” To intercept in this issue Chapman shared the massive collaborations that are occurring with partners like the local school districts, Mendocino County Health Center, and North Coast Opportunities that will foster a deeper level of communication and connection, closing some of the gaps in medical services. Chapman shared that they are still working on collaborations with local law enforcement as they believe that will close a crucial loop in providing care.
Breakfast host Dr. Mark Cooper asked about a timeline for these projects, as he is aware of a multi-million dollar budget for mental health services. Chapman said in regards to the timeline for the behavioral health consortium that they want to see some meaningful change next, “that’s what we have agreed to.” He continued, “Right now.. it’s hard to push healthier options, so we know we need to see change in the next year.”
The Judge’s Breakfast is held every Thursday Morning at 7 a.m. at the Clearlake Highlands Senior Center. Next week’s speaker is Chuck Kassis, Hospital Administrator for Adventist Health.
