The Gateway Region YMCA has partnered with SSM Health — a nonprofit, integrated health system — to open a new 5,000-square-foot medical care facility located within the Chesterfield YMCA branch.
The Y leases the space to SSM Health, and through this arrangement both organizations can utilize their resources and services to meet the health and wellness needs of the growing Chesterfield community in St. Louis, Missouri.
Tim Helm, the president and CEO of the Gateway Region YMCA, said his Y has embraced the idea of working with partners to strengthen its services to the community by taking what the Y does well and supplementing their operations with what other organizations can provide.
“The result is a sharing of resources and combined expertise which results in a better service to the community,” said Helm. “One of the avenues we’ve pursued is with medical providers that can complement our work. We had discussions with SSM Health off and on for several years as we looked for the right opportunity that would work well for both organizations.”
Benefits of Community Health
One trend that’s been gaining interest in the industry has been how rec center teams can help improve overall community health in their areas. Thus far, this new clinic at the Gateway Region YMCA has provided an effective outlet for that intention.
Helm said collaborating with SSM Health allows individuals to meet their health care and wellness needs all in one stop at the YMCA, creating very high convenience.
“Y members can access all the programs and amenities of a full-service Y facility, and then take advantage of the primary health care services SSM offers including screenings, prevention, chronic care management, senior care and referrals into specialty care,” said Helm.
SSM Health employees at the clinic also have Y memberships, enabling them to utilize the facilities for the treatment of patients. It also allows them to personally experience the programs and services the Y offers to improve their own wellness. In turn, they can be advocates for the YMCA with the knowledge of everything the center can offer.
Building a Foundation
Helm said the trend of community health in community rec can be credited to individuals and families who are now looking for resources that nurture the whole person and foster a sense of community.
“To support that, for a long time we’ve been providing evidence-based health programs that give life-changing and life-saving support to individuals,” said Helm. “Examples of this work include YMCA Diabetes Prevention for those at risk for type 2 diabetes, blood pressure self-monitoring, LIVESTRONG at the YMCA for cancer survivors and Exercise for Parkinson’s to help extend mobility and quality of life. All these support mind, body and spirit in different ways.”
The most important factor Helm said that’s been successful in supporting overall wellness is remaining focused on how the center can continue to adapt to meet the changing needs of the community.
“That’s how our Y has thrived for more than 170 years,” said Helm. “For a partnership like the one we have with SSM Health to succeed, both organizations truly understand and express what they need from the partnership, and what they can bring to it. From there, we are able to have open dialogue about how we might work together to better serve the community while maximizing the strengths of both organizations.”
