COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

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Community Connections is a by invitation, bi-annual event series designed to strengthen shared knowledge and understanding across stakeholder groups and advance primary care in the St. Louis region. A common table for local practicing clinicians, health care purchasers, health plans, medical group and other community leaders, Community Connections is an opportunity to share experiences, perspectives, and ideas for strengthening primary care. Each event focuses on a timely topic related to primary care where attendees learn from an expert in the field and hear perspectives from community members. Community Connections also features an interactive group discussion to unite diverse stakeholders and open a shared dialogue. By bringing together those dedicated to primary care, MHI seeks to catalyze the change necessary to transform St. Louis into a community that leads the nation in primary care and health care value.

Building Bridges in Primary Care

MHI kicked off its Community Connections series with the

inaugural event on June 5, 2024 that focused on patient

experience in primary care.

To introduce the topic and set the tone for the event, MHI

board members Linda Brady and Dr. Bob Pendleton shared

with the audience what patient experience in primary care

means to both purchasers of health care and physicians.

Linda Brady, representing The Boeing Company, testified to

the importance of primary care in ensuring the health of an

employee population, emphasizing primary care access and

patient relationships as key areas of focus. Dr. Bob Pendleton,

Chief Clinical Officer of SSM Health in St. Louis, provided

insight into the many challenges that primary care practices

face, underscoring the need for dedicated community

improvements to the health care system and the impact of

ensuring high quality patient experience.

Keynote speaker Barbra G. Rabson, President and CEO of

Massachusetts Health Quality Partners (MHQP), a patient

experience measurement pioneer organization, presented

evidence linking patient experience to health outcomes and

recounted the Massachusetts story of building momentum to

measure patient experience and implement effective

interventions in practice. Ms. Rabson recognized the

oppositional forces working against the measurement of

patient experience but weighed numerical and anecdotal data

from primary care practices that embraced the focus on patient

experience to emphasize the improvements benefiting both

patients and clinicians alike.

During the group discussion period, participants reflected on how to advance primary care in St. Louis, while drawing from the previous presentations as well as their own roles and experiences within the health care system. Practicing clinicians, health care purchasers, and other stakeholders were able to exchange perspectives to help each other understand their priorities and challenges with primary care.

All Community Connections participants were asked to think boldly when answering the question, “What big idea would you recommend that would make St. Louis a national leader in primary care?”

“Employers direct contracts for PCP care via team-based care - clinic approach; one stop for all PCP services”
“Simplify PCP work, give them more resources (people)”
“Invest in prevention and policy, system and environmental changes to lessen the need for primary care, while investing in workforce development (recruitment and retention)”
“Increased investment in primary care; pay primary care commensurate with specialty care and pay primary care teams (not fee for service for PCP only)”

“Eliminate all fee for service”
“Pay for medical school for those who choose to go into primary care”
“Engage with community health workers, leaders, and health care partners to leverage resources”

These ideas serve as a springboard for future conversations around primary care in our region. Without the courage and opportunity to voice bold ideas, change will be even further out of reach.

MHI will host its second Community Connections on Wednesday, December 4 from 7:30 – 10:00 AM. To learn more about Community Connections and how to receive an invitation, please contact Justin Powless at jpowless@stlbhc.org.

Sponsors
The Midwest Health Initiative’s Community Connections was made possible through the generous support of its event Sponsors, who share MHI’s belief in the power of relationships and information to transform health care:

AbbVie
American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Quantum Health
St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition

MHI is grateful for the continued support from its Champions for Health Care Value, who enable MHI’s community work to bring together diverse stakeholders and generate data insights to support better health care quality and affordability.