Legacy Community Health Year in Review - Fiscal Year 2022

Fiscal Year 2022 Year in Review

MISSION

Driving healthy change in our communities.

VISION

Connecting our communities to health every day, in every way.

VALUES

Health Care is a Right, Not a Privilege

We believe that comprehensive health care is a human right. Legacy’s services and programs are open to all who need us, regardless of the ability to pay, without judgment or exception.

Devotion To Our Communities

We continue to build our legacy on a solid foundation by learning from our communities, embracing the people in them, and serving their unique needs. Especially when no one else will.

Leading The Charge

We address issues others shy away from. Not because it’s easy or popular, but because it’s the right thing to do. The Legacy team possesses unwavering courage and serves as a visionary catalyst for sustainably healthy communities.

Active Stewardship of Resources

We carefully manage our available resources in order to deliver on our promise of driving healthy change. We remain grounded in responsible decision-making for sustainable operations, putting every asset where it can do the most good for the community.

Legacy Community Health Services, Inc.

Board of Directors

Naveen Pinglay, Chairperson

Ryan Martin, Vice-Chairperson

Allison Floyd Wells, M.D., Treasurer

Ronnie Kurtin, Secretary

Mariana Chavez

Mac Gregor, M.D., At-Large / Executive Committee

Cathy Easter

Taryn Hargrove Gore

Gary Hammett

Bryan Hlavinka

Alex Jessett

Danilo Juvane

Rebekah Le

Johnson Olatunji

Neftali Partida

Cindy Scharringhausen

Kathleen Schmeler

Devin Vasquez

Legacy Community Health Endowment, Inc.

Board of Directors

Mike Holloman, Chairperson

George Hawkins, Vice-Chairperson

Ray Purser, Treasurer

Bryan Hlavinka, Secretary

Linda Cantu

Tripp Carter

Sharon Land

Mark McMasters, M.D.

Board Member Emeritus

Melanie Gray

Melissa Mithoff

James A. Reeder, Jr.

Monsour Taghdisi

Claire Cormier Thielke

As of June 2022

LETTERS FROM OUR SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CARE PARTNERS

MARK DIBELLA

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, YES PREP PUBLIC SCHOOLS

At YES Prep, we strive to create access to opportunities for our students and their families. Legacy Community Health has been a steadfast partner in providing onsite access to quality and affordable health care, including primary and behavioral health care.

Since 2015, our partnership has continued to grow. We now have 17 YES Prep campus clinics, where students and their families can find convenient health care, eliminating the stress and hardship of navigating health care systems on their own.

This has become even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Legacy has been a tremendous partner in supporting COVID-19 testing and vaccine clinics.

We are deeply grateful for Legacy’s commitment to serving our communities. We look forward to continuing our work together because a healthy student is a student ready to learn.

MECHELLE EPPS, PH.D.

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, GALENA PARK ISD

At Galena Park Independent School District, we’ve been thrilled to open more Legacy Community Health clinics at our campuses. Through our partnership, we’ve been able to provide general wellness and behavioral health services to our students in a way like never before—a way that is convenient and affordable, and with the highest quality of care. We know that when children are healthy, they’re able to pay attention in class and perform better academically. Our district now has an “A” rating with the Texas Education Agency (TEA)! We are so proud of this, but we know that we can only achieve this if our kids are able to come to school healthy each and every day. Thank you, Legacy staff, for making our communities healthier!

MARIA RIVERA, M.D., MPH

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF STUDENT WELLNESS, KIPP PUBLIC SCHOOLS

We are so grateful for our partnership with Legacy Community Health. Legacy has clinics in 13 of our schools in Houston and provides well-child care, sick care, and behavioral health services for many students. Legacy staff have made a difference in the lives of so many of our students. They not only provide critical services, but Legacy staff also improved how we dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting our schools with vaccination drives and COVID-19 testing.

KIPP recognizes how instrumental the Legacy team is to our students’ success and in ensuring that all of our little KIPPsters learn in a safe environment. Thank you, Legacy, for all that you do!

ROBERT HILLIARD, JR., M.D., MBA

The Annual Report is a great opportunity to reflect on all that we’ve accomplished in the past year and what we are looking to achieve in the year ahead. With an organization as dynamic as ours, we’re always growing in some way– whether it be through innovating how we deliver care, expanding access to those who need it most, or through additional services and technology improvements. This year our teams achieved some very important milestones, contributing to areas of growth that I’m especially proud of.

In December, our Development team secured the largest gift Legacy has received in its 40-year history—a $50 million donation through our long-standing relationship with Houston Methodist. This commitment from Houston Methodist will support two new capital projects and provide operating funds for Legacy Community Health centers in North Houston and Pasadena. Through this donation, thousands of patients will benefit from expanded access to quality health care and support programs to address some of the greatest health issues impacting our communities.

Shortly thereafter, we opened Legacy Stafford Fountains, our first stand-alone senior clinic and our first-ever clinic in Fort Bend County. Designed to meet the unique health care needs of seniors, Legacy Stafford Fountains provides a comprehensive team made up of a geriatrician, nurse practitioner, psychiatrist, registered dietitian, pharmacist and social worker. Some of the many features of the new clinic include handrails along corridors, accessible doorways, larger signage and comfortable exam chairs. Senior care expansion will be a focus of ours in the coming year as well, so I can tell you with certainty there will be more on this front in the next edition of our Annual Report.

Over the course of the year, we also welcomed quite a few new members to our Executive Team, including Chief Digital Officer David Chou, Chief Human Resources Officer Vince Goodwine, Chief of Population Health and Legacy Performance Services Dr. Vernicka Sales, and Chief of Staff Benjamin Stewart.

The addition of Dr. Sales allowed us to begin building the Population Health and Performance Services department in support of our transition to value-based care and our continued commitment to putting the patient first and focusing on patient outcomes—both inside and outside of the four walls of our clinics.

Internally, we defined our cultural values as “Purpose Driven, Results Oriented, Caring, and Learners” and began introducing them across our teams. While these values have always been a part of Legacy’s DNA, they are now a tangible foundational component of our culture that supports a united focus.

We also held our inaugural Legacy Leadership Conference in July, through which 150 leaders from across the agency gathered for two days to focus on our vision for the coming fiscal year, key opportunities and challenges, and the foundation of leadership competencies.

We have much to celebrate this year and exciting ventures on the horizon. Every day I am impressed by the incredible talent, commitment and energy I witness across the agency, and I am grateful to be a part of driving health change in our communities.

Bobby

LEGACY BY THE NUMBERS

50 locations across Baytown, Beaumont, Deer Park, Houston and Stafford

1,480 employees

599,333 completed appointments

200,543 community members served annually

18% of our patients live at or below the federal poverty level Total Revenue...........................................

$320,455,495

$301,862,662

$20,204,511

WHOM WE SERVE

VANIA HERNANDEZ

Vania Hernandez’s dream was to have a child, but after months of trying, she realized that she needed to see a specialist. In July of 2020, Hernandez visited the Legacy Northline Clinic for medical advice and met with Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Director Dr. Rachel Robinson. “The doctor suggested fertility treatment,” said 27-year-old Hernandez. “I so wanted to have a baby.”

Dr. Robinson, who has treated many women with infertility since joining Legacy in 2018, determined that Hernandez could benefit from ovulation induction with a medication called clomiphene. “There is no additional cost associated with the visit, and the medication is very affordable,” she said. “When I have a patient who is a candidate for basic fertility treatment, I offer this treatment,” Robinson added.

For Hernandez, the fertility treatment she received through Legacy brought her dream of motherhood to fruition. Within one year of beginning treatment with Dr. Robinson, Hernandez was thrilled to learn she was expecting her first child. But the road ahead was not an easy one. Pregnant during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hernandez was hospitalized with the virus but recovered with no harm to her pregnancy. Hernandez’s pregnancy was further complicated by gestational diabetes and growth restriction. Her high-risk pregnancy was co-managed with a maternal fetal medicine specialist all the way through to her preterm delivery at 35 weeks. On June 13, 2021, Hernandez delivered a healthy baby boy, Jairo Rubio Hernandez.

“I’m so grateful that Dr. Robinson recommended the treatment and for her care along the way,” said Hernandez, who continues to receive health care services at Legacy. “I love the pediatrics staff,” she added about the Legacy Northline clinic where she brings her son for his checkups and sick visits. “They are so friendly and helpful.”

“I so wanted to have a baby.”

OB/GYN AND OB2PEDI PROGRAM PATIENT

GIGI R Ö SE BYRD

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PATIENT

Poet and musician Gabryella “Gigi” Röse Byrd has poured much of her energy into the lives of others through her volunteer work as a pastor for the LGBTQ+ community. But when it came to her own behavioral health needs, she didn’t know where to turn.

Röse Byrd often struggled with insomnia as a child. “I’d wake up mad at people who smiled at me in the morning. I didn’t understand how they could wake up in a good mood,” she said. Röse Byrd’s struggle continued into adulthood, and when her behavioral health began impacting her marriage, she knew she needed help. Unfortunately, her search for a therapist was unsuccessful, and she felt like she spent most of her visits listening to a therapist rather than being listened to. On the verge of giving up, she learned about Legacy Community Health’s Behavioral Health services through an LGBTQ+ Facebook group.

Röse Byrd admits she began her first telehealth visit with Legacy Therapist Alicia Hicks, LCSW, with a lot of anger and frustration. “I was yelling, cursing, throwing a fit and crying,” said Röse Byrd, who had been experiencing weeks of insomnia. She was encouraged when Hicks seemed to listen to her story. “When I got through venting and getting everything out, I took a deep breath, complimented Alicia on her hair, and she began giving therapy,” Röse Byrd said.

Röse Byrd was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. She continued therapy with Hicks, who also referred her to Legacy Psychiatrist Dr. Chad Lemaire. Dr. Lemaire prescribed medications to further support her treatment, and she began sleeping better and at more regular hours. “It’s a different world for me,” said Röse Byrd who is also grateful to Steve Stellenwerf, Health Prevention Specialist at Legacy, for his guidance and support in changing her name.

While she continues to receive therapy through Legacy Behavioral Health, she was so happy with her care and its outcome that she now also utilizes Legacy’s dental, gender care and pharmacy.

“Mental illness is a physical illness.”

SHAWN KINGSLEY

ELIGIBILITY AND PHARMACY PATIENT

For Haute Chef Shawn Kingsley, managing his diabetes had become nearly impossible. The medication he was on was making him sick, and the medication he needed was not affordable. So, when he moved back to Texas from New York in 2020, he knew where to go for help – the same place that had saved his life eight years prior: Legacy Community Health.

In 2012, excruciating foot pain had sent Kingsley from specialist to specialist for nearly a year, but no one could provide a diagnosis or effective treatment. Desperate for relief, he underwent foot surgery, where 95% of the bone was removed under three of his metatarsals on his right foot. But the pain continued, and the foot would not heal post-surgery. With surgery looming for his left foot, a friend suggested he get checked out at Legacy. “I limped over there,” Kingsley recalled, “and was seen the same day.” After a series of lab tests, he finally had a diagnosis. Kingsley had syphilis, and he’d had it for a long time.

Kingsley’s Legacy clinician initiated treatment for syphilis, and within a matter of days his pain was gone and his foot was healing. Through that experience and with the support of his Legacy care team, Kingsley was inspired to begin taking better care of his health.

Ten years since that first appointment, Kingsley remains a Legacy patient, and he credits Legacy’s integrated care team for helping him with all of his health and wellness needs: the Legacy Eligibility team for guiding him through the Affordable Care Act application process to gain health insurance; the Care team for helping him to manage his diabetes; and the Pharmacy team for working to obtain diabetes and cholesterol medications that were right for him at a cost he could afford, and for recommending PrEP for the prevention of HIV.

“Legacy is a reminder to me that people really do care,” Kingsley said. “The Legacy team saved my life.”

“Legacy is a reminder that people really do care.”

A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF POPULATION HEALTH AND LEGACY PERFORMANCE SERVICES

VERNICKA SALES, D.O., FAAP

Dear Legacy and Friends,

I joined Legacy in 2022 as part of the organization’s overall vision and commitment to moving toward value-based care (VBC) and population health management, which is the direction the health care industry is moving in and which supports Legacy’s ongoing focus of putting the patient first.

I’m excited to be part of this effort, as VBC means taking a holistic and comprehensive look at each patient and restructuring how we deliver care to the diverse population that Legacy serves. Through this shift, we will be able to ensure that the health and wellness needs of everyone are met—from expectant parents and their babies to seniors and people living with HIV and other chronic conditions. We will address challenges that often present in low-income patients and those without access to regular care. Additionally, we will see significant gains in treating conditions such as diabetes and hypertension and providing prenatal and postnatal care, vision, dental and many other services. With this holistic approach to patient care, we expect to reduce the prevalence of poor health conditions and increase efficiency.

Through the VBC model, clinicians are paid or reimbursed based on the value we provide our patients and their health outcomes versus treating only their symptoms and focusing on the number of patients seen. For example, let’s say a patient presents to their primary care clinician with chronic headaches. While discussing the symptoms with them, we learn they have visited the emergency room twice in the last month for the same issue. Rather than prescribing a headache medication and sending them on their way, we dig deeper. By using this approach, we discover the patient has high blood pressure, we begin treatment immediately, and the headaches are better managed once the blood pressure is under control.

As this shift to VBC is well underway, we have many achievements to be proud of, including:

• Introduced VBC to all Legacy staff and provided education on population health, our upcoming VBC initiatives and how every team member plays a role in our success.

• Began the transition to a model that includes caregivers at every patient touchpoint, looking inside and outside of our clinics. From doctors and advanced practice practitioners (APP) to pharmacists and social workers, all of our clinicians are considering the patient holistically.

• Began planning pilot projects to solidify our transition of care and disease management program.

In looking to the year ahead, we will expand our focus to include:

• Increasing early intervention to help patients better manage conditions like asthma, diabetes and hypertension, and ultimately keep them out of emergency rooms while also better managing resources and costs.

• Expanding our services inside and outside of our clinics, blending how patients engage in primary, specialty and behavioral health care, pharmacy and social services.

• Treating patients for health challenges not previously discovered.

• Expanding Care/Disease Management program, which will provide support to patients with certain disease processes and who are at increased risk of adverse events. The pilot goal also includes rolling out a comprehensive Remote Patient Monitoring program which will help enrolled patients reach self-management.

I’m so excited to be part of implementing the VBC model throughout the Legacy system and providing better care to our patient population while also improving the experiences of our employees and clinicians.

Vernicka Sales, D.O., FAAP Chief of Population Health and Legacy Performance Services

ETHEL CANNON

At 68 years old, Ethel Cannon works an evening shift as a childcare provider, relying on Metro to travel to and from work. That’s why it’s very important that she stay up to date with management of her glaucoma, high blood pressure and cholesterol—and her preventive health. Legacy not only provides the health care she needs but also connects her with transportation and food assistance.

Cannon first became a Legacy patient several years ago for vision care. When her primary care physician left his practice, Cannon decided to seek primary care at Legacy as well, but transportation to and from her appointments was a challenge. Cannon was introduced to Legacy’s Health Connect program, which screens patients for certain non-clinical health barriers (such as not having transportation to and from health care visits or lack of access to proper nutrition) and then connects them to the resources they need to maintain their health and wellness.

“I enjoy my doctor,” Cannon said. “I have close conversations with him, and I’m never afraid to speak up to him about what is going on with my health.” But it’s the services provided to her through Health Connect that have made the biggest impact on her health and her life. Through Health Connect, Cannon receives transportation to and from her health appointments and nutritious foods on a weekly basis through the Food Rx Program.

“My job pays my bills and the rent, but the food from the food bank really helps me,” Cannon explained. She enjoys the fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, canned good and products for her home she receives each week. Just as important to Cannon are the warm welcomes and social interactions she receives during her Legacy visits from the health care team, Health Connect coordinators, food bank volunteers and transportation drivers. “I love everything about Legacy,” she said. “I’m very grateful.”

“My job pays my bills and the rent, but the food from the food bank really helps me.”

LEGACY HEALTH CONNECT PATIENT

ALIKA SALIU*

NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV PATIENT

As recent immigrants to the US from Nigeria, Alika Saliu and her family weren’t sure where to turn when her health started failing. She was eventually referred to Legacy’s Montrose clinic where the care team quickly went to work to run lab tests and assess her condition. While tests were run, Saliu met with Health Prevention Specialist Steve Stellenwerf who provided a caring and calming voice to Saliu during her visit and her subsequent transfer to a hospital emergency room, as her condition was deemed serious. Stellenwerf continued to provide support throughout Saliu’s four-day hospital stay.

Saliu was diagnosed with HIV and pneumonia and began treatment immediately while in the hospital. Stellenwerf remained in touch, checking in on Saliu and her family and providing support and guidance. Upon her discharge, Saliu chose to continue her care and treatment at Legacy’s Montrose location. She and her family were impressed and appreciative not only of the prompt and exceptional medical care she received, but also of the level of compassion and commitment to helping those in need that they experienced. Stellenwerf continued to manage Saliu’s care, scheduling her with Infectious Disease Physician Dr. Meena Sunil. “My Legacy doctors and team gave me back my hope to live and pull through this crisis,” Saliu said.

Now that her health is stabilized, Saliu is enjoying a better place in life and is searching for a job in her new home.

Health Prevention Specialist

Steve Stellenwerf supported Alika throughout her care.

*Name changed for privacy.

“My Legacy doctor and team gave back my hope to live and pull through this crisis.”

THE CHALLENGE

CONDITIONS AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE NATION

Maternal Mortality

The national maternal mortality rate rose 18% in 2020 to 23.8 per 100,000 live births. Texas has some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country. In particular, maternal mortality affects the Black community at a disproportionate rate. A complex combination of factors contributes to the maternal mortality rate, including access to quality health care, health knowledge, implicit and systemic bias, behavioral health and underlying chronic health conditions. It is estimated that 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable by addressing the factors above.

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee)

Health Disparities

Across Harris and Jefferson Counties, health outcomes vary significantly by determinants including access, education, income, gender, geography and race, making health disparities a continuing public health concern. In 2020, 18.3% of Harris County residents did not have access to health care due to an inability to afford care, with a higher rate of 23.8% in Hispanic communities. Additionally, 15.6% of Harris County residents lived below the federal poverty line, including 22.7% of children and 12.0% of seniors. Based on the 2022 Food Insecurity Index, 27.6% of Harris County residents live in areas with the highest food insecurity rating.

(Houston Health Department, Houston State of Health)

HIV Pandemic

Each year, there are approximately 1,200 new HIV diagnoses in greater Houston and 60 new cases in Beaumont. This puts Houston and Beaumont in 6th and 9th place, respectively, for highest rates of new diagnoses in Texas. Recent data shows that Black and Hispanic people make up 85.2% of all new HIV diagnoses, while only making up 58% of the region’s population. Such data highlights how black and brown communities are disproportionately affected by HIV as compared to their white and non-Hispanic counterparts, which can be due to several factors including increased stigma and limited access to testing and prevention.

(AIDSVu.org)

COVID-19

Over the last two years, the US has made significant progress in the fight against COVID-19. Approximately 80% of the US has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. However, only around 15% of the US has completed the primary vaccine series and is up to date on their booster. That percentage is even lower in Texas, with only 10% of residents fully vaccinated and boosted. While death rates have dropped significantly, more than one million lives have been lost to COVID-19 in the US, making the virus the third leading cause of death.

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Mental Health

Recent data shows that over 21% of Harris County residents experience more than five poor mental health days in a month, with nearly 15% of residents experiencing more than 14 poor mental health days. Across the US, there is a shortage of over 8,000 mental health professionals, and Harris County has an average rate of 137 mental health professionals per 100,000 residents.

(Houston State of Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Health Resources & Services Administration)

THE SOLUTION

Prenatal and Postpartum Support

Legacy’s Care Management & Patient Education teams worked with Clinical and Behavioral Health teams to provide a wide range of health care, educational and wraparound services to improve maternal health from prenatal to postpartum. In 2022, the Patient Education team completed over 26,000 patient interactions including testing appointments, close to 1,600 Becoming a Mom education sessions and just over 300 Peripartum Pediatric Navigation (PPN) program enrollments.

Access to Food

Because Legacy understands that access to food is an important component of complete health care, we partnered with the Houston Food Bank to provide food prescriptions (FoodRx) to patients in need. Once enrolled in the program, patients may access 30 pounds of free fruits and vegetables, plus additional healthy products, twice a month. More than 200 patients are currently enrolled in the program.

Working to End HIV

Legacy continued its long-standing fight to end the HIV pandemic by increasing access to at-home testing kits, leveraging and expanding community partnerships to reach more community members, and being among the first in the community to offer long-acting injectable HIV prevention and treatment options. Through the Care Management and Clinical teams, Legacy conducted 60,959 HIV tests, through which 334 community members decided to start pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection and 394 newly diagnosed people living with HIV were connected to care.

Protecting Communities from COVID-19

Legacy rolled out the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages five through 11 at all School-Based Health Care (SBHC) clinics, followed by vaccine rollout to the same age group across all Legacy locations. Since first administering COVID-19 vaccines in January 2021, we have administered just over 50,000 vaccines. to date. Through our COVID-19 vaccine efforts, many patients received vaccines at clinics across locations embedded in communities that might have faced barriers to receiving the vaccine. At the same time, our Human Resources, Medical, Nursing and Operations teams continued to work to protect staff members with ongoing management in accordance with CDC guidelines and updates.

Access to Mental Health Care

In an effort to meet the growing behavioral health (BH) care needs of patients and community members, Legacy implemented hybrid in-clinic and work-from-home schedules for BH clinicians and therapists. 74% of the 158,000 completed appointments were performed remotely. Legacy also expanded the clinicbased BH team, adding six psychiatrists and 30 therapists bringing the team total to 33 psychiatrists, three psychologists, 44 therapists and six BH consultants, along with 35 school-based therapists. Even though most of these clinicians joined late in the year, there was a 7% increase in completed appointments compared to FY21.

SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CARE CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE, HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR STUDENTS

This past year marked the 10-year anniversary of Legacy’s School-Based Health Care (SBHC) program, which places clinics and access to quality care right inside a school—and it was a year of exponential growth. This year we opened four new SBHC clinics, bringing the total to 32 schools offering students and their siblings behavioral health (BH) and pediatric care right on campus while reducing time out of the classroom for students and time away from work for parents and guardians. This expansion meant we were able to serve more than 12,000 patients in medically underserved communities—nearly double the number of patients we served in the previous school year. Across locations, SBHC clinicians completed more than 55,000 patient visits, increasing the previous year’s visits by more than 20,000.

High-Quality, Full-Service Care at School

School-Based Health Care patient Donovan

Martinez and his mother, Michelle.

Legacy’s SBHC program provides comprehensive pediatric and BH services to students, their siblings and the children of school staff, including well-child exams, management of chronic illness, sick visits, lab work, vaccinations, and individual, group and family therapy and psychiatry services. During this past school year, Legacy SBHC received a $50K grant from the American Cancer Society to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) awareness and vaccination rates at three pilot locations (Green Valley Elementary, KIPP Connect

and YES Prep North Central) and a $200,000 grant from HRSA for program expansion, which helped offset costs at YES Prep North Forest Elementary, YES Prep Southside Elementary and YES Prep West.

“We provide the same high-quality care that you would get at a Legacy stand-alone clinic,” said Senior Director of SBHC Roma Bhatt, LPC-S. “One of the biggest differences is that the parent does not have to be present for the visit.”

For parents like Michelle Martinez, the convenience and quality of Legacy’s SBHC services has been life changing. When her son Donovan, a Galena Park Independent School District (GPISD) student, needed both pediatric primary and BH care, Martinez’s work schedule made it difficult to schedule the doctors’ appointments he needed. So, when Martinez heard about a new Legacy clinic on the campus of her son’s elementary school, she immediately registered him as a patient. “Having the convenience of the clinic being located inside of the school has made our lives so much easier,” she said.

Martinez schedules Donovan’s doctors’ appointments and therapy sessions around her work schedule, and her other children also utilize Legacy’s SBHC services. Donovan’s therapy sessions in particular have had a tremendous effect on his self-esteem. Now going on two years with his Legacy therapist, Donovan works hard to apply what he’s learned to everyday life. He’s no longer afraid to speak in public and knows how to voice his opinions. “Being able to witness a positive change in my child’s attitude and confidence has made me feel overwhelmingly happy,” Martinez said.

Helping Students Understand and Own Their Health

In addition to providing convenient access to quality health care, Legacy’s SBHC program is also committed to increasing students’ health literacy and empowering them to own their health. Students see their clinic staff in school hallways and at school events, allowing them to build stronger relationships and creating a trusted environment for students to gain a better understanding of their health, medical records and how health care works – all of which prepares them for navigating health care in adulthood.

And then there’s the Senior Check-Out! As students approach high school graduation and begin looking ahead to life after high school, Legacy SBHC provides a final visit to educate seniors on how to access health care and patient health records, as well as how to manage chronic health conditions. Patients are also offered any vaccinations they may need and are made aware of the many resources available to them, whether they are entering the work force or furthering their education

To Learn Well, You Must Be Well

“Our motto is ‘To learn well, you must be well,’” said Roma Bhatt, “and we feel privileged to be entrusted with the care of our students.”

As we celebrate the first 10 years of our SBHC Program, we reflect on our accomplishments with pride and gratefulness,

and we look ahead with hope and vision for the next 10 years of serving

SBHC Staff at YES Prep North Forest Elementary

SBHC Staff at YES Prep Southside Elementary

SBHC Staff at YES Prep West

the schools in our communities.

NATALIE SERRANO

SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CARE PATIENT

A senior at YES Prep Fifth Ward Charter School, Natalie Serrano enjoys playing soccer. She first visited the Legacy School-Based Health Care (SBHC) center for her knee pain related to a torn meniscus. Following successful treatment, Serrano continued to use Legacy services to help manage her diabetes, and Nurse Practitioner Amber Gardner has played a significant role in her health.

Under Gardner’s care, Serrano was able to lower her glucose levels and learn how to better manage her diabetes. “Legacy has kept me out of the danger zone,” the 17-year-old said. “I’ve been able to create a realistic diet that I can follow on my own as well as understand why certain things happen to my body.”

“It’s been my pleasure to have Natalie under my care,” Gardner said. “Her commitment to her own health and wellness has led to positive health

outcomes. It has been rewarding to partner with her and celebrate her progress over the past two years.”

Legacy’s TeenWell program has also contributed to Serrano’s success. TeenWell provides teens and young adults with the information and resources they need so they can take an active role in their own health care. “Legacy’s TeenWell services have kept me on a healthy path,” said the high schooler who aspires to become a dental hygienist. She added that the clinic’s accessibility has made it possible to achieve her health goals. “When I really need to see the nurse practitioner, I’m able to quickly get an appointment, and since the clinic is at school, I don’t need a parent to bring me,” Serrano said.

All three of Serrano’s siblings also use Legacy’s services, relieving the burden of juggling work and caregiving with scheduling and transporting the children for appointments. Serrano’s mother, Mary Serrano, expressed her gratefulness for the program. “Legacy has played a critical role in the health of my family for the past 11 years,” she said. “The convenience and quality of care is incomparable.”

“Legacy has kept me on a healthy path.”

$50 MILLION GIFT FROM HOUSTON METHODIST

EXPANDING LEGACY’S PRESENCE IN GREATER HOUSTON

It’s not often you can point to a specific day and say, “That was when everything changed.” But that’s what happened on December 16, 2021, when Legacy Community Health announced that we had received a $50 million donation from Houston Methodist to further expand our presence in the Greater Houston area. Thanks to this generous, transformational grant, Legacy will be able to establish two new clinics, one in North Houston and one in Pasadena.

This was the first large donation made as part of Houston Methodist’s Community Health Program Investment, which is earmarked for health projects that will serve underrepresented communities in the Houston area. “We’ve partnered with Legacy for the past 24 years, and together we have made a significant impact on the Houston health care landscape,” said Cathy Easter, President and CEO of Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services. Houston Methodist wanted to take the next step in their mission to provide high quality, costeffective health care that delivers the best value to the people they serve, “and our history of working with Legacy gave us the confidence we needed to make this long-term investment,” said Easter.

This is the largest grant Legacy has received in our more than 40-year history, and it creates an even stronger bond between Legacy and Houston Methodist. “Our agencies have been working together to treat Houston’s underserved population for more than two decades,” said Legacy CEO Bobby Hilliard, “and it is safe to say that this partnership has changed the lives of Houstonians. We are incredibly thankful for this gift and for the support Houston Methodist has given us beyond monetary donations.”

Throughout the long-standing partnership, Houston Methodist has supported such landmark programs as Legacy’s Youth Re-entry Program, the Community Scholars Program, and the Community Network of Care. It has also supported the Houston Methodist Legacy Family Medicine Residency program at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital, which provides a well-rounded experience for its residents through community-based clinic rotations, training in inpatient care (including ICU management) and obstetrics/ gynecology (OB/GYN), as well as assistance with ensuring continuity of care from the hospital to the clinic.

“Being able to work with partners like Legacy—and being able to extend Houston Methodist’s reach into the communities where people live and work—makes us feel very fortunate,” said Easter. “Both Houston Methodist and the City of Houston are lucky to have an organization like Legacy, one that meets the needs of all citizens, regardless of where they come from or how much money is in their bank account.”

Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services President and CEO Cathy Easter and Legacy Chief Development Officer Chree Boydstun

GEORGE HAWKINS

You’d be hard pressed to meet someone who represents Houston more than George Hawkins, who serves on Legacy Community Health Endowment’s Board of Directors and the Planned Giving Committee. “I’m a fifth-generation Houstonian, and I like to tell people I grew up in the shadow of the Hobby Airport runways,” said Hawkins. “I love this city, and I believe it’s one of the best kept secrets in the country...I simply wouldn’t want to call any other place home.”

Legacy Community Health has long been a part of the fabric of the city, one Hawkins has known about since the days when we were called the Montrose Clinic. “I used to take friends to the Montrose Clinic, friends who are sadly no longer with us,” said Hawkins. “It was the only place for the gay community to go for care and one of the few places where the community felt welcome. Despite Legacy’s growth, it’s never forgotten these roots and never lost sight of how important it is to treat patients with kindness and respect.”

Hawkins rediscovered Legacy during the capital campaign for the Montrose location. “I had been looking for a worthy organization to support, and it turned out Legacy was right under my nose,” said Hawkins. Friends and neighbors receiving care at Legacy told him about the high standard of care and the compassionate support Legacy offered, which is how he knew he was supporting the right organization.

That feeling has been confirmed time and again, but it was never stronger than when the first COVID-19 vaccine became available and Chief Development Officer Chree Boydstun called Hawkins to ask if he’d scheduled his first dose. “I’m a big needle-phobe, so I hadn’t,” Hawkins said, so Boydstun scheduled him for his vaccine at Legacy Santa Clara. ”The people there were so kind and hospitable that I was truly blown away,” Hawkins said. “They didn’t know I was on the Board of Directors; they just knew I needed help, and they were in the position to provide that help.”

Hawkins has seen firsthand the impact Legacy has on individuals and wants to make sure that Houstonians are able to access this type of compassionate care for generations to come. He recalled a past visit to Legacy Santa Clara, when he was in line behind a mother and her son who were there to receive their COVID-19 vaccines. “The son had special needs and was apprehensive about getting a shot, and the way the staff came out from behind the desk to reassure him and make him feel safe has stuck with me since that day,” said Hawkins. “I think most places would’ve tried to get them in a treatment room and out the door as quickly as possible, but Legacy’s employees went out of their way to make them feel comfortable. That type of commitment to care is powerful.”

That experience is one of the many reasons Hawkins decided to make a planned gift and name Legacy as a beneficiary in his estate. “I want to see the organization have a strong and sustainable future,” said Hawkins. “It’s so important for us to know that Legacy will be around for 30, 50 or 100 years to carry on its mission. We don’t know what public health funding will look like in the near future, so it’s vital that we make a plan to keep Legacy’s doors open for as long as possible.”

For Hawkins, it all comes back to helping others and making an impact on the city he loves. “Legacy embodies what the city is all about,” said Hawkins, “and its development parallels Houston’s growth. Both the city and the agency are bigger than you think, more diverse than you might have guessed, and more welcoming and supportive than any other place I’ve visited. I’m proud to be a part of an organization that feels like the family I grew up in and the city I call home.”

CHRISTUS HEALTH

Legacy’s relationship with CHRISTUS Health goes back over a decade and has driven healthy change in two Southeast Texas cities. “CHRISTUS came to us in 2009 and asked if we would be interested in taking over their clinic in Southwest Houston,” said Legacy Chief Development Officer Chree Boydstun. “They wanted to make sure their existing patients would be well taken care of and recognized that we could meet the great need in the area, particularly for maternity and pediatric care. We assumed operations of that clinic in 2010, and it’s been our busiest location since then.”

Two years later, CHRISTUS approached Legacy about expanding to Beaumont and opening a clinic in that city’s South Park neighborhood. “CHRISTUS has a strong presence in Beaumont thanks to St. Elizabeth Hospital, and they have a highly respected name in the area,” said Josh Davis, a Beaumont native and Legacy’s Vice President of Major Gifts. “Their support allowed us to establish our roots in a part of Texas that desperately needs high-quality, low-cost health care.”

This relationship was renewed in late 2021, when the CHRISTUS Community Impact Fund awarded Legacy $100,000 to support access to mental health care and healthy living education for the children of Beaumont.

“In 2020, the Community Health Needs Assessment report for CHRISTUS Southeast Texas identified access to behavioral health (BH) care services as a primary health concern in the community,” said Jessica Guerra Martinez, CHRISTUS Program Manager of Community Development. “We saw an opportunity to change the community’s circumstances and partnered with Legacy to increase access to mental health services for children.”

This grant gives children access to a Legacy BH therapist for mental health services and a Legacy Public Health educator to discuss their health, wellness and any physical fitness goals they may want to set. “Childhood obesity is an underfunded epidemic, and combating this issue requires both our Behavioral Health and Public Health teams,” said Davis. “Our Behavioral Health clinicians excel at delivering early intervention and care for children and their families with disorders they often do not understand, and our Public Health educators are experts at formulating outreach education programs. Together they help children and families understand the root causes of childhood obesity and how they can live healthier.” Support from CHRISTUS can also be used to purchase supplies to help families make healthier choices such as illustrated MyPlate portion plates, available in both English and Spanish, to teach families appropriate portions for a healthy meal.

The long-standing relationship between Legacy and CHRISTUS Health has brought real, lasting change across Southeast Texas. “We invest resources, collaborate with community partners, and empower our community to produce positive impact. Legacy helps CHRISTUS Health fulfill our mission by supporting our efforts to address the community’s health concerns and providing a ‘medical home’ for the underserved in our community,” said Guerra Martinez.

“We are truly thankful for this continued partnership and for the grant funds that support the children of Beaumont,” said Boydstun. “The confidence CHRISTUS has shown in Legacy has meant the world to our organization, and I know that we will continue earning that confidence for years to come.”

LEGACY IN THE NEWS

Total News Mentions: 900+ Articles

Human Rights Campaign Health Equality Index, LGBTQ Health Care Quality Top Performer

Legacy Community Health

Potential Readership: 3B Ad Spend Equivalency: $5.6M

Houston District Council of the Urban Land Institute, Development of Distinction Awards Legacy Community Health

OutSmart Magazine’s Gayest & Greatest Readers’ Choice Awards

Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce –Pride in Business Nonprofit Member of the Year

Legacy Community Health

Best Community Health Services Provider Best Female Physician – Jeannie Banh, M.D.

Best Pharmacy – Legacy Pharmacy Favorite Female Nurse – Priscilla Presson, RN

Best Female Nurse Practitioner – Maggie White, FNP-BC, APRN

Best Mental Health Therapist/Psychiatrist – Chad Lemaire, M.D.

Leading Female Fundraiser – Chree Boydstun

In August 2021, Legacy hosted United States Senator John Cornyn and the Houston Food Bank to promote the FoodRx collaboration.

Patient Education Director Jill Jahns with Haley Hernandez to emphasize the importance of HIV testing in the African American community.

Legacy Chief of Clinical Services

Vian Nguyen, M.D., was featured in the Houston Chronicle regarding women’s health.

KPRC 2 interviewed Chief Development Officer Chree Boydstun to highlight charities and organizations for potential donations by lotto winners.

In October 2021, every local Houston news station attended the BikeRx program press conference at the Legacy Fifth Ward Clinic.

Legacy Family Medicine

Physician Amelia Averyt, M.D., provided diabetes prevention tips in Spanish on Univision 45 during the morning newscast.

NEW IN FISCAL YEAR 2022

New Long-Acting Injectable HIV Prevention and Treatment Options

In January 2022, long-acting injectable HIV prevention and treatment medications, Apretude and Cabenuva respectively, came onto the market after being approved by the Food and Drug Administration in December 2021. Legacy, through Pharmacy and Wellness Bar, was among the first Houston health care organizations to begin offering both medications to eligible patients. As part of the rollout, Marketing, Pharmacy, and Wellness Bar worked together to create an all-new campaign around injectables to begin enrolling eligible patients. By June 30, 2022, a total of 159 unique patients had been prescribed either Apretude or Cabenuva, completing 166 Apretude injections and 154 Cabenuva injections.

Hypertension Return to Care Initiative

Legacy initiated the Hypertension Return to Care program in March 2022 with the goal of providing timely access to care for patients living with hypertension who had been out of care for six months to one year. Nearly 600 patients have successfully returned to care through this initiative, all receiving appointments within two weeks of contact. The program is ongoing at Legacy Central Beaumont and Legacy Southwest.

Opening of Legacy Northside Irvington

In May 2022, Legacy Northside Irvington opened in Avenue Center, Avenue CDC’s new facility in Near Northside. In addition to Legacy Northside Irvington, the 30,500-square-foot facility brings together community resources including the YMCA Children’s Academy and other vital services like homebuyer education and counseling. It is the first of its kind in the neighborhood. Legacy Northside Irvington offers adult primary care, behavioral health, OB/GYN, pediatrics and vaccinations and immunizations.

Senior Health Care Expansion

The year 2022 kicked off with the January opening of Legacy’s first clinic in Fort Bend County and its first stand-alone health clinic for senior adults ages 63 and older. Legacy Stafford Fountains features accessible doorways and restrooms, comfortable exam chairs, handrails along every corridor and large-print signage, along with an on-site lab and X-ray room. Recognizing the need for personalized, high-quality health care to help aging adults live their healthiest, fullest lives, Legacy Stafford Fountains offers a collaborative approach to care with a team that includes a behavioral therapist, family nurse practitioner, geriatrician, geriatric social worker, clinical pharmacy specialist, psychiatrist and registered dietitian.

With Legacy’s vision of health care for all, we’re committed to providing a wide range of services:

Adolescent Care

Adult Medicine

Behavioral Health

Dental

Eligibility & Enrollment

LegacyCommunityHealth.org

Endocrinology

Family Medicine

Gender Health & Wellness

Health Promotion & Education

HIV/STI Screening, Prevention & Treatment

LGBTQIA Services

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Patient Navigation & Linkage to Care

Pediatrics

Pharmacy

School-Based Health Care

Senior Care

Social Services

Sports Medicine

Transgender Specialty Care

Vaccinations & Immunizations

Vision