Alive and Well STL

Joe Yancey, Executive Director of Places for People, and Suzanne LeLaurin, Senior Vice President of Program at the International Institute discuss trauma, which Joe define as experiencing or witnessing an event that compromises an individual’s sense of safety and wellbeing. Trauma is very difficult to recognize and identify and while the issue is gaining increasing attention from the medical community, there are pockets in our community that have normalized trauma and traumatic experiences. Join Joe, Suzanne, and Bethany as they discuss the steps we are taking, and need to start taking, as a region to create trauma-informed and supportive communities.

Meet Stacy and Heather

At an event for Alive and Well STL ambassadors Jennifer Brinkmann of the Regional Health Commission encourages community members to engage by visiting AliveandWellSTL.com. Rosetta Keeton, also RHC staff, discusses assumptions and why we should let people tell their own story. Ambassador Tinley speaks about how we can each help our community become more trauma-informed.

Person-centered care is a shift in the way of thinking and doing things in healthcare that sees the patients as partners to make sure the services meet their needs. Add in a trauma-informed and trained staff and the possibilities are outstanding.
Dr. Caroline Day brings respect and consideration to each of her patients in family medicine. The "Alive and Well STL" message provided the piece of the puzzle that was missing from sustainable results and care with her patients. She became an ambassador and found it to be as rewarding to her as it was for those who benefited from the application of the training.
Veronica Richardson is at the senior level of administration as the Vice President of Quality Improvement with Affinia Healthcare. She not only discovered the "Alive and Well STL" Ambassadors training was essential for improving the communication and relationship between staff and patients; but it also improved the well-being of their staff in their personal and professional lives. Veronica came to healthcare early on as a child and was taught that community care is what truly makes us all Alive and Well!!!
Learn more about Dr. Day and Family Care Health Centers at http://www.fchcstl.org
For more about Affinia Healthcare visit http://affiniahealthcare.org
For Alive and Well STL visit www.aliveandwellstl.org

Dr. Will Ross, Associate Dean for Diversity, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, and Senior Fellow at the Washington University Center for Health Policy, discusses why social determinants of health are dictated largely by the distribution of wealth, power and resources in one’s environment. He says that being conscious of your surroundings and overcoming negative environments with positive thinking are important. Dr. Ross explains how to positively affect your own health by taking advantage of one of St. Louis’ many beautiful parks, eating healthy by shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables, and utilizing preventive treatments such as flu shots and other vaccines.