Russelyn Cruse
CHI Saint Joseph Health Partners
Job Title: Market Director of Clinical Operations
Member of KHC for: 1 year
Provide a brief description of your job: I lead our west market team in providing better health, better care, better experience and lower costs by increasing the connectivity to network providers and facilities to the patients they serve and utilizing evidenced based care models to develop and promote the highest quality care at the best value.
What do you see as the biggest threat to our community’s health? How do you feel it needs to be addressed?
Health inequity is the biggest threat to our community’s health. Excellent healthcare and access to resources that address social determinants of health should be available to every person in our community. Priority needs to be placed on addressing systemic barriers to healthcare by equally distributing the power and resources across our community, address racial and socioeconomic biases that can negatively influence patient experience within the healthcare system, and by addressing the whole person by assessing for and addressing social determinants of health as part of the healthcare experience.
Improving health is one of the three main priorities of the Triple Aim. What are the best strategies for improving health in our community?
A large part of improving the health of our community is making sure that everyone has access to high quality care. Connecting patients to the resources that are available to them can lower incidence of chronic conditions, decrease barriers to accessing resources, and drive down the cost of care over a lifetime. At CHI Health Partners, our goal is to promote and facilitate patients making those connections. More times than not, a simple annual wellness visit with a primary care provider can set a patient up for healthier outcomes each year because it provides an opportunity to address patient needs, preventative care, and an opportunity to get in front of health issues at earlier stages for improved outcomes at less of an expense. The health of our community starts with empowering people and giving them the right tools for success.
What is the KHC’s biggest contribution to improving community health and healthcare?
KHC provides a table for members to come together to tackle challenges around health in our community and create alliances in doing so. The information sessions that are available to members provide incredibly relevant resources. Navigating a pandemic is not something any of us were expecting, but the KHC has provided a platform where we can share and collaborate with other stakeholders to continue to address the Triple Aim effectively and continue to deliver quality care to the community collectively.
What do you do in your spare time? Provide a fun fact about yourself.
In my spare time I enjoy gardening and spending quality time with family and friends. I love seeing people and things around me at their very best.
What is your favorite app or social media outlet?
My favorite app is Pandora Internet Radio. Music is my favorite form of art.
