If you won’t go to the doctor, the doctor may end up coming to you.
Southern Illinois University’s School of Medicine is targeting underserved communities by bringing health screening teams to churches as well as community organizations that primarily serve Black and other minority communities.
“We’re trying to establish a partnership. And most importantly, we’re trying to establish trust with people because it goes way back in history,” said Taiwo Akinsoji, MD, program coordinator of culturally responsive health initiatives at SIU Medicine.
The Health DEPOTS program aims to create a safe space for individuals to take charge of their health through improved health literacy and advocacy.
The project is a collaboration between SIU School of Medicine and faith-based and community organizations such as the Springfield Urban League and local NAACP chapter.
“Increasing access to health care in underserved areas is one of many ways that we address health inequities,” said Marcus Johnson, president and CEO of the Springfield Urban League. “COVID-19 has increased existing gaps in care. This partnership and community health care outreach strategy is designed to build a bridge that reduces it.”
Medical students accompanied by a physician visit various sites in the community and screen for high blood pressure, diabetes and other health conditions. They also educate about nutrition, fitness and other healthy lifestyle choices.
Rev. Roy Newman, pastor of Fresh Visions Community Church, said the program has been well received by his congregation. He said for a variety of reasons, some members of his congregation are reluctant to go to a physician’s office.
“Some are afraid to go to a doctor’s office or see doctors for some reason. But they are willing to come to the church and get these screenings. I think it is important to meet people where they are comfortable and willing to come,” he said.
“SIU School of Medicine has committed to being an antiracist institution, and we consider our partnerships with the community to be fundamental,” said Wendi Wills El-Amin, MD, associate dean of equity, diversity and inclusion at SIU. “The new Health DEPOTS program allows us to build a greater level of trust and create more spaces for health education.
“We want people to find us in the places they normally frequent and be able to get screened or monitored for hypertension, diabetes and obesity,” she said.
The medical school is providing equipment for the Health DEPOTS and training health ambassadors to properly use the equipment. The program launched in February and is currently partnering with 10 churches and two community organizations.
Akinsoji said they hope to reach out to Springfield’s Muslim community as well.
“We don’t want to create a perception that we are only working with Christian groups,” she said.
She added, “With increasing racial and ethnic diversity in our nation, it is important to use a culturally oriented approach to address the health needs of the community.”
Physicians and medical students enjoy having more time to work with patients than they may in a clinical setting.
“We are having time to really sit down and talk with them and explain, we bring out anatomy models,” El-Amin said. “And it was really interesting. We took out all the parts and it was the first time that people really are able to see what we had been talking about. It’s kind of rare to be playing with human body models and see where the liver is. … People have symptoms, and now have a different picture in their mind to better understand.”
She added they are taking advantage of people with various skills in the congregations to monitor patients after the initial screenings. Nurses and other medical personnel, who may be a part of a particular church, will continue to monitor blood pressures and blood sugar levels within their group.
El-Amin said that often during hurried physician visits, patients are sometimes bewildered. The Health DEPOTS hopefully will allow for more complete explanations and better training on the significance of tests.
“I just think that health care is complicated,” she said. “And what worries me is that people who have been given a diagnosis and treatment plans, when they get home they’re like, ‘I don’t even know how to use this equipment. I don’t even know how to do my finger stick. I don’t understand what these numbers mean.’ This is really an opportunity for us to build that psychological safety. That’s important for people to be able to relax and to ask questions.”
Scott Reeder, a staff writer for Illinois Times, can be reached at sreeder@illinoistimes.com.
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