Stanford Medicine Expands Role: Stanford Medicine made a historic investment in the community for the betterment of the community this past fiscal year. The organization has invested more than $1 billion in services and activities that directly impact people’s lives and health. This investment was not just limited to hospitals and clinics, but also included basic needs such as food, housing, and mental health. This is why it is being considered not just as an expansion of medical services but a major step towards improving overall community health.
Health improvement starts locally
Stanford Health Care President and CEO David Entwistle believes that the commitment to improving human health begins in the community and extends far beyond the walls of the clinic. He says that problems such as housing, food and mental health are as serious as physical ailments. With this thinking, Stanford Medicine, along with its trusted local partners, has tried to meet the needs of the people.
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health CEO Paul King also emphasized that each year the institution tries to deepen its efforts. According to him, it is not only a responsibility but also a privilege to support families where they live, work and do life.
Economic stability and quality of life
Building a healthy community requires more than just medicines and doctors, but also economic stability. In an expensive and complex region like the Bay Area, housing and food instability severely affects the quality of life. Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley supported the Meals on Wheels program to provide nutritious meals to 800 senior citizens in Alameda County. Along with this, food and other supportive services were also provided to seniors living alone in the Contra Costa area. Nutritious food was also prepared for young children under the CAPE Head Start program so that pre-school children can develop properly.
Housing instability is another major cause affecting health. Rent problems, frequent house changes and living in crowded conditions prove to be harmful for both mental and physical health. To deal with this problem, Stanford Health Care provided five lakh dollars to the organization Destination: Home. This organization helped about 6,000 families in Silicon Valley to get permanent housing. Similarly, support was given to a food bank named Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, which delivered nutritious food to more than 1,39,000 people in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.
The Importance of Mental and Behavioral Health
Mental health is one of the most pressing challenges today. Community surveys revealed a great need for mental health services and addiction treatment. Stanford Health Care expanded Roots’ Behavioral Health Connections Program, which provided mental and emotional health support to more than 500 people. The program included trained social workers, counselors, and health guides.
A major step was hiring a full-time therapist for patients without insurance at Axis Community Health. The grant completed more than 1,000 mental health counseling sessions. The Teen Van service for youth was launched, providing primary and mental health services to youth ages 12 to 25. The mobile service served more than 1,800 youth last year and raised more than $1 million.
Expanding Access to Health Services
Stanford Medicine also took steps to ensure that health services are not limited to just a few. Support for the Sonrisas Dental Health program provided dental health services to 663 children. School visits were also made to educate children about the importance of dental care.
Along with this, $250,000 was donated to expand the Alameda County Care Alliance’s Advance Illness Care Program. This initiative helped nearly 1,200 people suffering from serious illnesses. HERS Breast Cancer Foundation also received financial support, which provided post-surgical products and services to women battling breast cancer.
About $2.3 million was also spent on a free transportation service called Care-a-Van for Kids. This service benefited 550 children and families who travel long distances to the hospital for treatment. Stanford Health Care committed $1 million annually for the next three years to St. Rose Hospital to strengthen community hospitals.
Philanthropic Services and Financial Aid
Stanford Medicine not only made institutional investments, but also helped patients who were unable to afford treatment. More than $726 million was spent to cover uncompensated costs for patients covered by Medi-Cal and other government programs. In addition, more than $30 million was given in charity care, under which medical services were made available free or at discounted rates to financially underprivileged patients.
Conclusion
Stanford Medicine’s efforts are not limited to financial assistance, but it reflects their deep commitment to community health improvement. The institution proved that health is not limited to the four walls of the hospital, but it is connected to every aspect of life. Strengthening food, housing, mental health and community services is the real health improvement.
This initiative gave the message that when large organizations work together with the community, it has an impact not only on the present but also on generations to come. This contribution by Stanford Medicine will continue to improve the quality of life of the community for years to come. It will play an important role in getting it done.
