Creating healthier, more equitable, and vibrant communities
Every day our academic healthcare system provides exceptional clinical care for our patients and leads breakthrough research and innovation. We also have a long history and strong commitment to our communities to improve community health and advance health equity.
There are many ways we carry out our community commitment — and we are proud of the impact we have in neighborhoods across the state. Last year’s efforts are described in our 2021 Community Impact report. Here are a few examples of our impact:
- Conducting lifesaving research — More than 1,140 active clinical trials helped us leverage critical data for all patients
- Reducing barriers to clinical care in diverse or under-resourced neighborhoods — There were 4,548 visits to Health Commons for health and wellbeing services and 38,069 free COVID-19 vaccine doses and 4,051 free flu shots (in addition to those at our clinics) administered at community events
- Training the next generation of caregivers — 6,475 student learners from 68 disciplines gained hands-on experience working side-by-side with our healthcare workers
- Addressing hunger and providing healthy food — Nine M Health Fairview clinics served 162 families through our Veggie Rx program; 191 households were enrolled in the Community Cooks Meal Box Delivery Program and 2,740 boxes were distributed at events — providing 92,472 meals for families
- Promoting safety and providing health training — Our teams distributed 476 bike helmets to youth and trained 420 individuals in Psychological First Aid
- Leveraging our assets and strengths in community — Throughout the year we sponsor events, provide in-kind donations, and promote volunteerism
This summer, we are excited to launch the M Health Fairview Center for Community Health Equity. Located in the new Fairview Community Health and Wellness Hub in St. Paul, the center will expand the work being done by our Community Advancement team. It’s designed to help us continue to innovate and work closely with community toward our shared goal of reducing racial and other disparities in community health outcomes — increasing our impact in the community.
As a healthcare organization, we are dedicated to creating a healthier future for all.
