Community Benefits of Healthcare

As the Greater Houston area continues to recover from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, at-risk communities are struggling the most to rebound. Maintaining or finding employment and sustaining safe and affordable housing can be difficult. Dealing with new health issues or exacerbated chronic issues related to the COVID pandemic and lack of food access due to the economic downturn increase life stresses. These factors directly affect an individual’s health outcome, productivity, and longevity.

CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic is breaking down barriers by considering these various factors, or social determinants of health, when treating a patient and addressing their needs. “For St. Mary’s Clinic, I like to focus on how the combination of medical services and social services contribute to healthier communities for the patients we serve” Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D., St. Mary’s Clinic Medical Director, said.

The clinic’s social determinants fall into four categories – cost of healthcare, nutrition, mental health and social services. Components of health care can include preventative care, regular medical care for long-term conditions, medications, and laboratory tests.  St. Mary’s Clinic makes these components available and affordable for each patient. For medications, the clinic utilizes various prescription assistance programs to access low-cost or no cost prescriptions. In 2023, St. Mary’s secured $4,779,014 in prescription assistance for patients.

“We believe that providing primary care, which encompasses timely health screening and comprehensive care of acute and chronic diseases contributes to the on-going health not only of the individual person but the whole the community.  And our mission is to make that a reality for all.”

The clinic addresses food insecurity through its ongoing partnership with the Houston Food Bank, as well as food gift cards for those unable to work and in dire need. Through a partnership with Catholic Charities, counseling services address mental health issues that can often contribute to new health issues or make existing issues worse. Finally, through the clinic’s patient navigator, patients not only learn about what social services are available to them, but also have assistance in completing required paperwork and processes to access those services.

“Being able to do for people who can’t is spectacular,” Popp said. “We are creating a system that is friendly and non-threatening, where patients know they will receive quality care.”