Q2 2024 Updates

Successful Triennial Survey - The Joint Commission

Richmond Community Hospital successfully completed their Triennial Joint Commission Survey between June 25 and June 28 this year. The Joint Commission is a United States-based nonprofit, tax-exempt 501 organization that accredits more than 22,000 US health care organizations and programs. The team hosted surveyors in the main hospital, offsite facilities, and partial hospitalization program, working diligently and collaboratively throughout the week to demonstrate quality patient care. Our surveyors were consultative and offered great compliments including but not limited to; recognition for work within our community health, National Patient Safety Goal 16 Health Equity criteria regarding our Hypertension Management Program, and overall praise to our nursing documentation and processes.

Access to Medical Services:

MRI Ribbon Cutting – April 22, 2024

For more than two years, Richmond Community Hospital has been working towards building out a new $4.5 million MRI suite and patient lobby. The hospital recently received the highly anticipated delivery of the state-of-the-art MRI machine and celebrated the opening of the new renovated lobby with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 22.

These enhancements are part of our Community Today, Community Tomorrow: Pathway to Wellness in the East End initiative and will help us ensure that patients in the East End community have access to the newest MRI technology within Bon Secours’ Richmond market while proving the patient experience.

Wellness and Prevention:

Hypertension Management + Shalom Farms – Health Equity NPSG 16

The Hypertension Management Program continued strong into the second quarter with the official launch of Produce RX. While patients continue to meet with their primary care physician, Dr. Charmaine Elliott, pharmacist, nurse, community health worker, and dietitian, adding Produce RX includes access to free fresh produce every week. The program also includes cooking classes, group nutrition education, and fresh produce vouchers that can be redeemed at Shalom Farms farm stands and the Market@25th. The last nutrition education workshop included a healthy meal from Soul N’ Vinegar and a Paint N’ Healthy Sip through the Arts and Health Foundation. Patients focused on art as a stress reliever and painted a beach landscape while drinking mocktails made of fresh fruit, seltzer water, and low-sugar fruit juice.

Passport to Wellness – Sarah Garland Jones Center – April 27, 2024

Over 200 people joined us at the Sarah Garland Jones Center for our annual Passport to Wellness Event! While free food, line dancing, music, painting and a kids’ zone helped make the event fun for all ages, the purpose of the event was to educate and empower residents to be healthy. Doctors and health professionals from Richmond Community Hospital and beyond shared information regarding health, educational and economics issues that impact our community. Topics included information on immunizations, blood pressure management, women's health, men's health, mental health, dental health, navigating the health system, cancer screenings, and violence prevention and awareness.

Practice Green Health Partner for Change

Richmond Community Hospital was awarded the 2024 Practice Greenhealth Partner for Change Award, recognizing superior performance in environmental sustainability, covering a range of different sustainability programs and activities. Richmond Community Hospital has installed motion-detecting, environmentally friendly light bulbs, and continues to expand their Herb and Vegetable Garden – open to the staff and community for seasonal picking!

Community Partnerships:

Inspire – Healthcare Explorer’s Camp

Healthcare Explorer’s Camp aims to introduce adolescents aged 13-17 from the Boys and Girls Club to various health care opportunities and careers, fostering a future generation of medical professionals and administrators. This initiative aims to establish an inclusive health care career pathway through equitable principles and practices.

This summer, Boys and Girls Club students will participate in the second annual informative and experiential summer sessions from July 2nd - July 30th, facilitated by Bon Secours associates, to expose youth to the health care field and stimulate their curiosity. Some competencies students will be learning include how to properly put on PPE (personal protective equipment), how to do CPR, dress a wound, read an EKG, and swaddle an infant. The students have expressed how they were inspired to pursue a career in pediatric care, radiology, and lab in the previous year and are the main reason we plan to expand the program partnerships in the future.

Community Benefit Investment Program

Every year, Bon Secours provides grants to community partners and nonprofits who provide important services and resources that address the social drivers of health. Our latest round of investments was finalized this quarter including $920,000 specifically awarded to partners serving the East End. These partners provide services in all five of our key program categories which include: access to care, behavioral health, affordable housing & community livability, educational achievement, and economic equity. Investing in these partners bolsters our efforts for a healthier East End.

Supporting East End Entrepreneurship Development (S.E.E.D.) Grant Outreach

For over a decade, Bon Secours has utilized the S.E.E.D (Supporting East End Entrepreneurship Development) program to promote economic development and diversity in the East End, and the latest round of S.E.E.D. launched this quarter. With a focus on Church Hill and Fulton, businesses are eligible to receive up to $25,000 to support the growth and advancement of their business. The program also includes support in developing a business plan, and access to one-on-one coaching. This quarter also marked the initiation of an Impact Study through the Richmond Night Market to celebrate the impact of over $1 million invested through the program and to discover ways to evolve the program for the future.

Pastor’s Appreciation Luncheon – April 26, 2024

On April 26, Bon Secours convened pastors and faith leaders from across the East End to express gratitude for their partnership, guidance, and service of the community. The event was held at the Robinson Theater and included a fully catered lunch by Chef Jean Lorestil, music by songstress Rev. Younger, greetings from Richmond Community Hospital leaders (CEO, COO, and VP of Medical Affairs), and a special tribute by Rev. Naomi Davis, Congregational Health Program Coordinator, to the faith leaders for their ongoing support in connecting their congregations to vaccines, including COVID-19. It was a joyous time of fellowship culminating in dessert and a special thank you gift for the pastor’s promoting self-care.

Congregational Clothing Donation – Hospital Partnership

Beginning June 28, 2024, the Neighborhood Engagement Team is partnering with Richmond Community Hospital for a clothing donation drive with one of the Congregational Churches in the East End. The Pastors have been an integral part in finding ways to assist with the disparities within the neighborhood that they serve and are working to continue fostering relationships and assessing the social drivers of health needs.

Training and Recruitment

Office of Community Wealth Building – Healthcare Career Development Series

Richmond Community Hospital and the Office of Community Wealth Building successfully collaborated on a health care career development initiative. They organized a week-long course covering various employment opportunities in multiple healthcare professions such as radiology, patient care technician, and case management. Participants received interview tips and practice before applying for full-time positions. At the end of the course, participants toured Richmond Community Hospital and attended a job fair, where several individuals were offered and hired on the spot. The goal is to continue and expand this collaboration between RCH and OCWB.

AmeriCorps Program Additions – Neighborhood Engagement Team

Four new AmeriCorps members joined the Community Health Neighborhood Engagement team this quarter to serve as Community Health Workers. These members are focused on their project to increase access to community resources in mental health, fitness and wellness, and homelessness. They hit the ground running by meeting with nonprofits and service providers in the East End to build an inventory of neighborhood resources, and they have also been canvassing the neighborhood to learn what to prioritize based on resident feedback. Their project will culminate with a community event shaped by what they have learned in the 3rd quarter. Their efforts are propelling our work to continue addressing the social drivers of health.

Cristo Rey Richmond High School Award – June 20, 2024

Richmond Community Hospital and three of our sister facilities in Bon Secours Richmond were honored at a ceremony held on June 20, 2024. The Cristo Rey Partner Appreciation and Awards Luncheon was held to honor all organizations who sponsor students in the Corporate Work Study Program at the Richmond location. Richmond Community Hospital completed their first year of the partnership in May 2024 by sponsoring employment for four high school students ages 14-18 throughout the school year. The hospital looks forward to continuing the relationship with such a prominent learning community that educates young people of limited economic means to become men and women of faith, purpose, and service.