It’s been a huge year for our team here at Valleywise Health. From working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic to revamping some of our clinics (and breaking ground on new ones), we’ve reached major milestones and connected with our community more than ever.
As we prepare for our annual radio GIVE-A-THON, we want to take this opportunity to look back on our rich history and say thank you to everybody who has supported us along the way. We wouldn’t be who we are today without you, and we are proud to have continuously served families across the Valley for the past 150 years.
Your support goes even further than allowing us to care for the most vulnerable populations in our community — it helps us ensure a healthier future and trustworthy care for generations to come. Here are five major ways your support helps us grow:
1. Exceptional care, without boundaries
Our top priority at Valleywise Health is to make sure every person in our community can access the care they need to stay healthy, regardless of their background, socioeconomic status or ability to pay. Finances should never stand in the way of our patients getting the care they need, and support from our community enables us to continue providing for these patients, no matter what.
Providing accessible care for our community also means making sure that care is never too far away for our patients — and that they can still get the support they need no matter what may be changing in the world. When the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, we had to quickly adapt to the changing landscape of healthcare and amp up our telehealth services to meet the needs of our community. Since then, we’ve taken over 80,000 telehealth appointments and can continue to offer this convenient option thanks to the support we have received.
2. Trailblazing HIV care
Since the very beginning, Valleywise Health has been a pioneer in providing HIV/AIDS care for people throughout the Valley. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS program helps us ensure our patients can always have access to the preventive care and treatment they need to live their healthiest lives, regardless of their HIV status. Support from our community allows us not only to continue providing this care at affordable rates — it helps us ensure the Valleywise Community Health Center – McDowell is always equipped with top-of-the-line medical equipment and services.
3. Accessible, compassionate behavioral health care
At Valleywise Health, our approach to healthcare is holistic — we believe caring for the mind is just as important as healing the body. We’re committed to providing exceptional, compassionate behavioral health care to communities across the Valley. That is why we’ve poured so much time and so many resources into building dedicated behavioral health facilities and establishing specialized programs that allow people of any age to find the care they need.
Our innovative outpatient programs include our First Episode Center and Assertive Community Treatment to help those who are in need of support get the care they need as early as possible and make positive adjustments into their community, jobs and regular activities. We believe in using the resources we have to address the changing needs in our community — and during this time of COVID-19, that commitment is closer to our heart than ever.
4. Teaching future medical leaders of Arizona
As one of Arizona’s first teaching hospitals, we have always been committed to quality education and equipping our future medical professionals with the hands-on training and mentorship they need to make the most of their careers.
Since 1952, we’ve lived by the motto “teaching is in our soul.” Over the past several decades, we’ve built up a variety of exceptional educational partnerships and programs that enable us to address the shortage of physicians in Arizona and prepare future doctors, nurses and medical professionals to care for our communities.
Through the efforts of our partnership with Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance, we’ve acquired the resources we need to bring over 900 new learners into our state over the next five years.
5. Caring for Arizona’s refugee communities
Exceptional care knows no boundaries here at Valleywise — no matter where you come from, you can find the care you need here. Our team members are wholly dedicated to providing accessible care to our refugee neighbors throughout the Valley with our Refugee Health Services. From translation services to community support, our dedicated team of Cultural Health Navigators and doctors is committed to ensuring all our refugee patients have access to everything they need to live their healthiest lives. We believe in helping our refugee communities integrate into the U.S. healthcare system and adjust to life in America in a safe, comfortable way.
6. Second largest Burn Center in the U.S.
Since 1965, the Arizona Burn Center at Valleywise Health has treated every imaginable type of burn, from minor burns to severe wounds to chronic skin infections. Ours is the only nationally verified burn center in the state of Arizona and the second largest in the U.S. Working in partnership with our Trauma Center, our team at the Arizona Burn Center offers our critically wounded patients a survival rate of over 98 percent — that’s 4 percent higher than the national average. Patients come to us from all over the Southwest, and we make sure to offer them the compassionate, comprehensive care they need to make a full recovery.
As part of our dedication to providing full-spectrum care for those recovering from burns and injuries, we’re committed to staying on the cutting edge of the latest technology and research. Community support and funding enables us to continue doing this so we can keep providing our patients with the best care they can find.
Our community is the backbone of everything we do here at Valleywise Health – thank you for your endless support. Be sure to mark your calendars for this year’s GIVE-A-THON! Last year, we partnered with Entercom and KALV Live 101.5 to raise $116,138 for Valleywise Health Foundation, to support program and patient needs at Valleywise Health
Tune in to Live 101.5 December 14 and 15 as we work to gather donations to support our 2021 projects, ongoing research and much more. Text “ALLINAZ” to 91999 or call 623-900-7777 to pledge your donation. Visit our GIVE-A -THON page to learn more!
