Center for Wellness Newsletter, 2023, Issue #1

Center for Better Health & Wellness Issue 1 • 2023

Denise Seats “I knew that it was time for a drastic change and to get my blood pressure under control.”

Center for Better Health and Wellness • 269.408.2258 • shlcenterforbetterhealth.org • 100 W. Main St. • Tue. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

CENTER FOR BETTER HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Taking Medical Advice to Heart

After years of managing heart conditions, Benton Harbor resident Denise Seats found the medical advice she needed to make permanent changes.

At 36 years old, Denise learned that there was an 80% blockage in one of her coronary arteries.

This is called coronary artery disease (CAD) or atherosclerosis.

Denise had two procedures done. The first was a balloon angioplasty to improve blood flow to her heart. The second procedure was a coronary atherectomy to remove excess buildup of plaque in her arteries.

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In her 40s, Denise had a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a ministroke which could be a warning sign of an impending stroke. TIA’s and stroke are caused by temporary or permanent poor flow, respectively, to the brain. Five years later, she had an ischemic vertebrobasilar artery brainstem stroke.

Poorly controlled high blood pressure is a major risk factor for having a stroke. In Denise’s case, she suffered memory loss and permanent loss of peripheral vision in her left eye.

Stress, smoking, poor eating habits, and lack

CENTER FOR BETTER HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Wellness and was pleased that the medical facility of physical activity contributed to Denise’s health was only a five-minute drive from her home. In problems. Looking back, she feels that health addition to offering cardiology appointments, education was not a priority in her community the center also provides mental health assistance, and wishes there were more opportunities to performs health screenings, and connects learn about the conditions she was at higher risk community members to various food, housing of having. Black women are 60 percent more likely and education supports. to have high blood pressure than their white “When I arrived at the center, I knew counterparts due to a longstanding history of some of the staff members personally,” Denise inequalities in our country. Education, income, said. “It felt great to reconnect with people from wealth and housing are all social determinants my community.” and factors that can multiply During the appointment, stress, which can impact Denise said she felt that heart health.

Dr. Lawrence had an accurate “After all I had been through, overview of her medical history I knew that it was time for a drastic and listened to her concerns. change in order to get my blood The cardiologist also provided pressure under control and I tips for measuring her blood needed to stop taking my health pressure more accurately and for granted,” Denise said. “This advised her on how to better was my final wake up call.” manage her overall heart health.

As she approached her Going forward, Denise will meet 50s, Denise leaned into her faith with Dr. Lawrence at least community to help her make twice a year. better decisions, spiritually, “Today, my blood pressure mentally and physically. She is very well maintained at 120/78 stopped smoking, started and I have Corewell Health in working out with friends at the – Denise Seats Southwest Michigan to thank local YMCA, and adopted better Benton Harbor for that,” she said. “I’m grateful to eating habits. Denise found a have time with my children and support system that held her now see my grandchildren grow up.” accountable for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Denise is proud of all the changes she has As luck would have it, she picked up a Center for Better Health and Wellness newsletter from made to improve her heart health. her local church and read that interventional “When you are young, you think you have cardiologist and 30-year volunteer for the American more time to change unhealthy habits, but that Heart Association (AHA), Willie Lawrence, MD, is not always the case,” Denise said. “Preventative was now practicing in the area. health matters­—so even in your 30s, I encourage “I was impressed with Dr. Lawrence’s medical residents to get their blood pressure checked at background and his desire to come to Berrien the Center for Better Health and Wellness.”

County to help improve the overall health of our community,” Denise said. “I was also excited to meet with a cardiologist who looked like me.”

Watch Denise share her story at In April 2022, Denise met Dr. Lawrence for spectrumhealthlakeland.org/seats the first time at the Center for Better Health and

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I’m grateful to have time with my children and now see my grandchildren grow up.

Source: Researchers explore how COVID-19 affects heart health in Black women. American Heart Association (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/08/25/researchers-explore-how-covid-19-affects-heart-health-in-black-women

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CENTER FOR BETTER HEALTH AND WELLNESS

A message from Willie E. Lawrence, MD Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a risk factor for the two leading causes of death in Berrien County, heart disease and stroke. As you get older, your risk of developing HBP increases. By the age of 60, more than 60% of Americans have the condition.

Blood pressure greater than 120/80 is considered elevated and puts you at increased risk of developing heart disease and stroke. Blood pressure greater than 130/80 is called high blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension. If you have HBP, in most situations, the treatment goal is to lower your blood pressure to less than 130/80.

It’s important to know that controlling HBP decreases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Beginning in 2000, we saw steady improvement in the control of HBP across the country. Death rates due to heart disease were also falling. In 2015, blood pressure control rates began to fall and at that same time, deaths due to heart | disease began to rise.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by a worsening of these Center for Better Health trends. But, we can improve the health of our and Wellness Services community through education and action.

• COVID-19 vaccines It is common for blood pressure to be measured inaccurately • Diapers (limited) due to improper technique and devices that are not validated or • Emergency clothing incapable of giving accurate measurements. At the Center for assistance Better Health and Wellness, we are using the American Medical • Flu vaccines Association program called M.A.P. to help our patients understand and improve their HBP. M.A.P. stands for “Measure Accurately,” “Act Rapidly” and “Partner with Patient.” Learn more here: map.ama-assn.org. Our patients are at the center of all we do at the Center for Better Health and Wellness. Your involvement and dedication to achieving optimal blood pressure is essential to improving individual and community health. It takes a village!

Sincerely,

Willie E. Lawrence, MD Cardiologist and Medical Director of Heath Equity, Corewell Health in Southwest Michigan Medical Director, Center for Better Health and Wellness Medical Director, City of Benton Harbor 4

• Food assistance

• Rental assistance • Legal aid (present the first, third and fifth Tuesday of each month) • Mental health resources • Personal protective equipment ° Masks ° Hand sanitizer ° Soap • Preventive health screenings ° Blood pressure ° Blood sugar ° Cholesterol • Utility assistance

CENTER FOR BETTER HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Data and evaluation

Visits to the Center for Better Health and Wellness *May 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023

457 Cardiac Visits

97

COVID-19 Vaccinations

161

Health Screenings

Our data shows that we continue to meet patients where they are, build trust between community members and the health system and be a positive presence in Benton Harbor and the surrounding area.

An example of health equity, the center is an opportunity to grow partnerships and funding that will help educate community members and navigate them toward different health, legal, mental, and social services.

The evaluation and research work that focuses on the Center for Better Health and Wellness is guided by principles of equitable evaluation.

This type of evaluation acknowledges culture and context when reviewing the success of the center. It also includes diverse voices and views.

Readers will see a mix of information from surveys to interviews that are intended to tell a holistic story about the center, the patients served and the work being done. View our series of evaluation reports from 2020 to 2022 here: spectrumhealthlakeland.org/center-evaluation.

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Legal Navigations

310

Social Navigations 5

CENTER FOR BETTER HEALTH AND WELLNESS

The Center for Better Health and Wellness is Expanding The center is moving from its current home at 100 W. Main Street in Benton Harbor to a nearby building that was generously donated to Corewell Health in December, 2021, by Whirlpool Corporation for the expansion. The future home for the center, located at 145 W. Main Street, is 20 times larger than the current center and will support the growing services available to the community.

Corewell Health is committed to achieving health equity, where everyone has an equal opportunity to live their healthiest life. By actively listening to community members and hearing what they need, the center has intentionally aligned resources, programs and services to transform health in Benton Harbor and beyond. Thanks to our community advocates, leaders, faith partners and patients, we can build a future where health is simple, affordable, equitable and exceptional.

At the new center, we will take a step closer to that future with many added services and activities that are in direct response to identified needs from the community. The new center will include expanded clinical space that will allow for a wide range of health care services to come to Benton Harbor, providing greater proximity and more equitable access to care in a welcoming environment. More than half of the building will be dedicated to new services and programming including a teaching kitchen that will allow for cooking classes, hands-on nutrition education and integrative medicine. There will be space for group education on topics like mental health and trauma, and space for physical activities like yoga, cardio drumming or dancing. There will also be dedicated areas for groups of people working on important community issues to gather and collaborate.

Services at the future site of the Center for Better Health and Wellness are expected to be available in fall 2023.

Sign up for email updates here: spectrumhealthlakeland.org/center-expansion.

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CENTER FOR BETTER HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Health, Housing and Healing How does housing link to health inequities? The 2022 Community Grand Rounds Housing Summit brought community members, housing experts, and those interested in learning about racial inequities together for a speaker presentation and panel discussion.

Event speaker Natalie Moore is an award-winning author and journalist who helped viewers understand the history of how racial segregation came to be in the city of Chicago, which is reflective of many other communities in the United States and pushed them to consider ways through which it might be reversed. Following the speaker, four local and regional housing experts gathered in a panel to share their experience in the housing industry, provide community-driven solutions to housing insecurity, and voiced their opinions on how to support and empower residents in the communities they serve.

Executive Director at Benton Harbor Community Development Corporation, Ashley Hines, Lead Consultant at Housing Next, Ryan Kilpatrick, 2022 Community Grand Rounds speaker, Natalie Moore, Equitable Housing Advocate, Tiyanna Williams, Managing Partner at Hometowne Development, Mike Keen.

To watch the 2022 CGR presentation or panel discussion and other past CGR speaker events, visit spectrumhealthlakeland.org/CGR-events.

The Impact of Structural Racism on Health Corewell Health made a promise to improve health and health equity by eliminating structural and systemic racism in our organization and the communities we serve. Systemic and structural racism are hardwired into our laws, policies, institutional practices and continue to harm our health and well-being. When we look at the history behind systems and structures, we can connect the dots on present inequities within our communities.

We all have a responsibility to work together to develop healthier communities. Community Grand Rounds (CGR) is just one example of an initiative from Corewell Health South that has started that journey. Through events featuring national experts to conversations in living rooms across our community, CGR is challenging thoughts and actions to heal the trauma of racism.

We feel called to tackle structural racism as part of living out our mission to improve health. This requires remedies based on honest reflection, authentic collaboration and hard work. View the work that CGR is doing to address structural racism and advance health equity at communitygrandrounds.org.

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CENTER FOR BETTER HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Food is Medicine The short film, “Matters of the Heart” is an opportunity to listen, learn and highlight people from the Benton Harbor community who are working to improve health and to improve access to quality healthcare. Willie Lawrence, MD, an interventional cardiologist, the medical director for health equity at Corewell Health South and the medical director for the City of Benton Harbor, interviewed the owner of Souls Ground Café, chef Audrey “Audy” Peeples, about heart health and the vegan soul food she makes to heal and educate community members.

Located on Territorial Road in the Arts District of Benton Harbor, her café resides in an area with limited access to supermarkets and grocery stores, sometimes called a “food desert.”

In Berrien County, heart disease is one of the leading causes of death, especially for non-Hispanic Blacks. Chef Audy is a recovering triple bypass patient who understands the importance of having access to healthy foods and understands how traditional soul food recipes passed down through generations can contribute to health issues such as hypertension.

Souls Ground Café is a place for all community members to “break bread” to what are culturally respected meals that feed the soul and also include ingredients that prevent high blood pressure.

Chef and owner, Audy Peeples, and Willie Lawrence, MD, at Souls Ground Café in Benton Harbor.

Click here to watch the short film Matters of the Heart.