OVERVIEW: Valleywise Health Foundation is the nonprofit 501(c)3 partner supporting Valleywise Health, our community’s public teaching health system. Our mission is to raise funds for key Valleywise Health programs, educational resources, research, programming, and critical patient services. When you invest through the Valleywise Health Foundation, you’re partnering in our mission to create healthier, happier communities across the Valley.
KEY FOCUS AREAS: Burn Survivorship / Treatment Medical Education / Public Teaching Behavioral Health / Wellness Ambulatory Care / Telehealth Refugee Health / Community Care
LEADERSHIP: Nate Lowrie, CEO
Kate Fassett, Vice President of Development
602-687-9031
602-612-9965
nlowrie@valleywisehealthfoundation.org
kfassett@valleywisehealthfoundation.org
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Valleywise Health Foundation provides philanthropic and financial support to critical programs that include medical education, research and capital improvement projects. The mission of Valleywise Health is at the
At Valleywise Health,
heart of all we do – provide exceptional care, without exception, to every
we are passionate
patient, every time. People in need who walk through our doors, regardless of the neighborhood they call home, receive the same compassionate treatment and expert care. Valleywise Health is Arizona's only public teaching health system
visionaries purposefully driven to elevate our community.
addressing the Valley's most critical healthcare needs serving the region’s underserved while teaching tomorrow's medical professionals. Recently, Maricopa County residents supported the passage of Proposition 480 (now called Care Reimagined), that provided much
We go ALL IN for a healthier, safer and stronger Arizona.
needed funding to renovate, rebuild and modernize our outdated medical facilities. We’re excited about the progress on the new Valleywise Health Medical Center that’s slated to open in 2023. This state-of-the-art facility will provide emergency services, acute care, surgery, as well as pediatric and women’s services.
WHY OUR WORK IS VITAL: In September 2020, IBM Watson Health recognized Valleywise Health as one of its 100 Top Hospitals. The first-time recognition for Valleywise as one of the top-performing major teaching hospitals in the U.S., and the only teaching hospital in Arizona, is significant. The Top Hospitals recognition spotlights the top-performing hospitals among 3,134 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals and it is based on excellence in clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, patient experience and financial health. Of the 100 honored this year, only 15 are large teaching hospitals. Valleywise was also recognized with an IBM Watson Everest Award for fastest financial and operational improvement over five years, the only Arizona hospital to earn the designation.
THE NEED IS CLEAR A homeless veteran is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. He’s confused and unstable. A teenage girl is hearing voices and seeing things others don’t see. She’s scared and riddled with anxiety. A grandmother continues to forget to take her medicine and no longer recognizes or trusts her family. She’s confused, lonely, and in need of help. Every day we see Arizonans with serious mental health disorders from all walks of life; many are homeless, suffering from depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma, PTSD, substance abuse, and more. They are someone’s sons and daughters – and they are all our neighbors. As research continues to uncover the mysteries of behavioral and mental illness, Valleywise Health is intervening to treat this condition at its onset.
Behavioral health issues aren’t limited to the mind. Statistics have
There are a lot of downstream benefits to diagnosing mental illness early. For example, when a patient has schizophrenia, it can lead to many hospitalizations, case management and costs for therapy. Early treatment can make a tremendous impact for the patient, their families, the overall community and the health system. Alicia Cowdrey, M.D.
proven that people with depression are 50 percent more likely to develop heart disease, stroke and respiratory conditions. Meanwhile, Maricopa County – not unlike the state or the nation for that matter – continues to see a shortage of behavioral health physicians, nurses and patient beds. Efforts at Valleywise are addressing these challenges in innovative ways. Valleywise Health works to ensure that anyone needing help receives treatment when and where they need it. Valleywise Health clinics currently offering integrated behavioral health service continue to see a steady increase in referrals from all over the state and region.
Valleywise has been aggressively expanding our capabilities to provide behavioral healthcare services to people in need. In 2019 we increased inpatient capacity by 400 beds through the opening of the Valleywise Behavioral Health Center-Maryvale. However, it is not only beds we’re adding to the region’s care needs. To address the desperate need for providers, Valleywise Health offers a host of fellowships, training and medical education opportunities to bolster the ranks in our state’s behavioral healthcare facilities. Valleywise Health and District Medical Group spearheaded the formation of the Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance, in partnership with Creighton University and Dignity Health. This primary pipeline for physician training has improved our shortage of physicians in the state – this includes behavioral health practitioners. In addition, Valleywise Health is the clinical training site for 35 other area medical institutions with nearly 1,200 students pursuing degrees in nursing, medicine, pharmacy and other health fields.
CARING FOR THE MIND, BODY & SOUL
Valleywise Health believes a healthy mind is as essential as physical health to a person's wellbeing. As the largest provider of inpatient behavioral health services in Arizona, Valleywise is addressing our community's behavioral health needs with compassionate highly skilled professionals in innovative environments. Throughout the pandemic, Valleywise clinicians have seen an increase in substance abuse and suicide risk. Recent CDC reports have shown Arizona has some of the highest mental illness, substance abuse, suicide and opioid overdose rates in the country. Providers across the state have also documented an increase in feelings of isolation and anxiety. The need for support services in an integrated setting is more critical now than ever before.
With the development of our patient-centric model of care, Valleywise identified the need to transform behavioral health services through: Integrated behavioral health: providing physical health and mental health services in one location. Adolescent and young adult treatment: pioneering evidence-based care with its innovative First Episode Center, among other programs. Inpatient services: when people can’t (or won’t) seek treatment on their own. Often, these patients are designated Seriously Mentally Ill (SMI) or may have court-ordered directives for treatment. Assertive Community Treatment (ACT): addresses the behavioral health needs for people that might be living independently or with loved ones and are actively seeking treatment. This program helps keep people functioning and in stable situations. Activity and therapy rooms: Use of evidence-based design to support and nurture healing. These rooms are an integral part of our care model and support multiple uses.
WHOLE PERSON CARE One of the greatest benefits of the integrated care model is the expediency in which care is provided. Valleywise Health has embedded new brain health teams into every Family Health Center to better manage patients across the behavioral health continuum. This includes providing preventive mental health as well as addiction services. These teams – that include a Behavioral Health Care Manager, Behavioral Health Tech, and Consulting Psychiatrist – will be available for primary care providers immediately upon identifying a need. A comprehensive approach with the patient’s primary care doctor and other specialists will ensure care for the whole person.
HELPING OUR YOUNG ADULTS While our Valleywise Health clinics offer integrated behavioral health services, our primary care providers continue to see a need for care in young adults. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1 in 5 children in the U.S. ages 3 to 17 have a diagnosable mental, emotional or behavioral disorder in any given year. Despite this growing awareness for the need for behavioral healthcare in adolescents, only 20 percent are ever diagnosed or given treatment. Mental health illnesses common in children include anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, depression, bipolar, eating disorders, schizophrenia and suicide. Shockingly, the Mental Health America of Arizona suggests that 50 percent of all mental health conditions begin in childhood. Of these: • 50 percent of people with a mental illness that are 14 and older dropout of high school • 50 percent of affected youths become adults with behavioral health issues • Left untreated behavioral health conditions increase costs of care Valleywise Health is addressing these behavioral health needs for adolescents with evidence based programs in separate age specific locations.
TACKLING A FIRST EPISODE HEAD-ON Nothing should ever stand in the way of young people achieving their goals of living their best lives. That’s why we developed the First Episode Center (FEC). Recall the teenage girl who is seeing and hearing things others do not? She’s now receiving care in our FEC. Experiencing psychosis at a young age is a frightening and helpless experience. Our FEC exists to make sure every adolescent and young adult are healthy, supported and able to pursue their dreams, even after or while experiencing psychosis. At the FEC, we treat members between the ages of 15-25 years who: • Experience unusual thoughts or behaviors • Hear voices or see things others don’t • Withdraw from family and friends Recovery is different for each person, but Valleywise wholeheartedly believes that recovery is always possible with the right treatment plan. Our goal is to ensure each “member” is feeling better and to reestablish a sense of normalcy so the patient can put roadblocks behind him or her to pursue their goals and enjoy life.
At the FEC, we use a team approach to support the young adult and their family as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms. We help our patients in various settings that are convenient and comfortable for them, including home, school, community spots and even our health centers. FEC services include: • Recovery coaching and peer support • Family education and support • Cognitive behavioral therapy
ACTing NOW Remember our homeless Veteran with PTSD? He’s now receiving
ACT services include:
ongoing outpatient care and his medication is monitored daily
• Substance abuse programs
by his integrated care team at Valleywise. He also has a stable
• Medication support
living environment through a referral to a community housing
• Counseling
organization.
• Peer support • Housing and employment assistance
Through advanced care models at Valleywise Health, great progress is being made. For instance, we are seeing a positive
All ACT services are provided by a team of highly
response from our Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
trained professionals including: psychiatrists,
program. This is a support system that helps families and loved
social workers, independent living specialists,
ones overcome serious behavioral health illness so that they
rehabilitation specialists and counselors. ACT
can return to enjoying their daily life.
and FEC are only two examples of the innovative programs Valleywise Health is implementing to
The ACT program uses a flexible and customizable team
support adolescent behavioral health. Our
approach to the patients’ treatment – whether that care is
medical training and facility growth capacity
provided at home or in a clinic.
also supports these efforts while we continue to serve the region’s behavioral health needs.
There is no time limit on the program – we provide treatment for as long as needed – 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
HOW YOU CAN PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE Many times, the most vulnerable members of the community are suffering with behavioral health disorders. Behavioral Health doesn’t discriminate based on age, zip code or economic status. Valleywise is dedicated to serving this need. By removing the stigma, creating conversations and implementing integrated models of care, we are making a difference in our community. However, our work is at a critical juncture. We need your support.
INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY Donor recognition opportunities for our philanthropic supporters are available throughout the healthcare system facilities as well as our research and scholarship training programs.
We must expand our innovative programs by increasing the capacity of our facilities while also training future behavioral health providers who meet the increasing need in our community. This is an investment.
$ 7M or more for the Behavioral Health Hospital in Maryvale $ 3M or more for the Behavioral Health Centers in Mesa, Phoenix and Avondale
It’s an investment in the long-term health and safety of our community. Valleywise Health thanks you for your support.
$400,000 or more for a Creighton Health Education Alliance - Phoenix psychiatry resident scholarship $200,000 or more for a Creighton Health Education Alliance - Phoenix child and adolescent psychiatry scholarship $200,000 or more for the lobbies of the behavioral health facilities $100,000 or more for specialized therapy areas, such as a recreation space at the adolescent center $50,000 or more for a behavioral health unit $25,000 or more for the behavioral health community rooms $10,000 or more for the behavioral health patient rooms
THANK YOU