The power of preventative health care

At Community Alliance’s integrated health care clinic, our focus isn’t just on treating illness — it’s on supporting wellness. Preventative health screenings play a vital role in catching potential issues early, ensuring that individuals can manage their health before conditions become more severe. We spoke with three experts from Community Alliance about the importance of preventative care and how our clinic focuses on increasing access to health care. 

Why routine screenings matter

Early detection can make a significant difference in treatment outcomes, giving people a better chance at maintaining long-term health. At Community Alliance’s integrated health care clinic, we conduct routine screenings for physical and mental health conditions. If someone presents with a mental or physical health issue, we have physicians, nurses, mental health care providers, wellness coaches, peers, care coordinators and more who can provide additional screenings, assessments, treatments and supports as needed.

“In addition to things like cancer screenings, we provide screenings for depression, suicide, substance use, social determinants of health — any and all screenings that may indicate a mental or physical health issue,” clinic manager Caleb Brandt explains. “We treat each person holistically.”

Todd Reckling, chief program officer at Community Alliance, underscores the importance of looking at both physical and mental health together. “Research shows that people who have serious mental health conditions are often times dying up to 25 years earlier than those without because of undiagnosed, overlooked, or poorly maintained or controlled physical health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Physical and mental health impact one another, so we want to work with people to recognize and address both. With integrated care, we see individuals have more positive outcomes and greater success with their wellness.”

Reducing barriers through integrated care

One major barrier to seeking care is simply acclimating to a condition. “People don’t know what they don’t know. We can get used to a condition quickly when it’s not diagnosed. It may start to seem ‘normal’ for us to feel a certain way. At Community Alliance, we always follow up on any type of health concern,” Caleb said.

Beyond awareness, feeling overwhelmed navigating the healthcare system alone can also be an obstacle, which is why Community Alliance provides hands-on guidance to connect with needed services. To increase access to primary care services, Community Alliance provides a sliding fee discount program for all people who don’t have sufficient resources.

“I think one of our strengths is our centralized intake process,” Susan Ward, RN, PhD, said. “Everyone who walks in our door is greeted by a team member for screening and assessment and can receive peer-to-peer support, then they receive a warm connection to registration personnel for an appointment in our integrated health care clinic if needed.”

Todd emphasizes the convenience and effectiveness of Community Alliance’s integrated care. “The beauty of having services in one location is it’s a one-stop shop. A broad array of services and supports are all offered under one roof. If you struggle with transportation, you don’t have to worry about how to get to several different appointments. It also helps with care coordination — we really believe in one client, one care plan, one care team. It’s more effective and efficient, and it increases positive outcomes for both the individuals we serve and our care team.”

How to be more proactive about our health

Caleb notes that we often treat health care as “sick” care and encourages a shift in perspective. “When you’re sick, you go to the doctor, or you avoid going and don’t want to know what’s wrong. At Community Alliance, we recommend being seen early and often — it’s better to know early.” He also acknowledges how life’s demands can make it difficult to prioritize health. “We live in a busy culture, but no matter what, you will have to spend time on your health. You can spend a little bit of time now, like an hour for a screening visit, or you can spend much more time recovering from something that may have been caught earlier or possibly prevented.”

Susan recommends taking small, manageable steps toward better health. “As a nurse, I’ve discovered that what helps people become more proactive about their health is taking small steps, little by little. If you can help someone take small steps, you can eventually identify their health issue, help them find resources, and hopefully assist them in letting go of some of their fear and anxiety.”

Todd reminds people that they don’t have to do it alone. “Your family, extended family, chosen family or friends can come with you to an appointment if you’re worried. They can help you prepare for the visit, take notes and remember what a doctor has recommended for your treatment.”

We’re here for everyone 

For 43 years, Community Alliance has been a trusted mental health care provider for community members with mental health needs, and our services are here for everyone. “We serve the whole continuum, from mild to moderate to high-intensity needs, for mental health, substance use and primary care services,” Todd said. “Whatever someone’s conditions are, we are here to help. The key is prevention and earlier intervention, helping avoid or alleviate chronic health conditions.”

Susan also highlights our clinic’s expertise in managing chronic conditions. “A real strength of our integrated care clinic is treating chronicity. We see people who have acute issues, but our strength is especially helping people who have chronic issues who need an extra layer of support.”

Whether you’re due for a routine check-up, have an acute issue or are managing a chronic condition, the best time to take care of your health is now. Learn more about our primary care services and how they can support your physical and mental health journey.