BJC HealthCare takes seriously our commitment to meet the health-care needs of the communities we serve. As part of this commitment, BJC is focused on improving and encouraging “health literacy” in our communities and among our nearly 26,000 employees. Health literacy means both knowing how to foster health and prevent disease, and taking the appropriate actions to do so. The United States Institute of Medicine has identified health literacy as one of the nation’s top health-care priorities.
One reason BJC advocates for greater health literacy is because our region does not fare well in national comparisons of health. More Missouri residents are overweight, smoke cigarettes and consume alcohol than the national average. Missourians also are less likely to consume the recommended daily quantities of fruits and vegetables or to get preventative health screenings such as colonoscopies, mammograms, cholesterol tests and dental exams than their national peers. All these proven risk factors lead to a higher incidence of cancer,
To help address and reverse these trends, BJC reaches out to members of the community through programs offered by BJC Community Health Literacy Services. In addition, BJC HealthCare hospitals and health-service organizations conducted nearly 1,500 community education events in 2003, attracting more than 150,000 people from throughout our region. Community outreach programs help children and adults understand the key determinants of good health and make choices based on this information.
During 2003, BJC also initiated several programs to encourage our own employees to become more aware of their health
status. Additionally, we provided needed resources such as smoking cessation and weight management classes to support
important lifestyle changes.
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Serving Through Partnership
Healthy Mind-Body-Spirit is a unique collaboration among St. Louis area hospitals, including BJC HealthCare, to serve local communities with disproportionate health disparities and fewer opportunities to receive preventive health screenings. The faith-based Healthy Mind-Body-Spirit outreach program seeks to improve the health of the medically underserved by offering medical screenings, educational seminars and other services in partnership with area congregations. The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services recently recognized Healthy Mind-Body-Spirit as a model for other cities across the country. |