Health Equities RPM

Last Friday, my family and I gathered to celebrate the life of my grandfather, Whitey Herzog, who recently passed away at the age of 92. His influence on me was profound and deeply personal. As we reminisced about his remarkable life, I reflected on how much he shaped my values and aspirations. In honor of his legacy, I took a significant step in launching the Herzog Center for Connected Care. This initiative is deeply rooted in the values my grandfather instilled in me: dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to community. Helping others who need it most. The Herzog Center for Connected Care aims to impact health inequities and disparities that contribute to poor health outcomes in St. Louis, rural Missouri and southern Illinois. We envision a maternal hub where technology meets compassionate community-focused care. Shockingly, Missouri ranks 47th in Maternal Mortality. This crisis has sparked our inaugural endeavor to address both maternal and infant health. This Maternal Health initiative is a community collaboration featuring resources like virtual monitoring, virtual doulas, 24/7 access to supportive resources and information specific to the community. Naming the center after my grandfather is a tribute to his enduring impact on my life. His guidance and love have been instrumental in shaping who I am today, as a disabled veteran, a nurse, and as an advocate for health equity. Knowing this about me, the co-founders of our organization felt it was appropriate to name the center after not just a great human, but a true ambassador for St. Louis and our bi-state region. Please join us in making a difference in our city. Together, we can honor my grandfather’s legacy by creating a healthier, more connected community. https://lnkd.in/gcB-BGB2 www.cccrpm.org Thank you for your support. Jacob D Herzog, RN, MSN #healthequity #maternalmortality #infantmortality #stlouis #missouri #illinois #digitaldivide

Addressing Healthcare Disparities in Rural Areas: A Call to Action New Athens is facing the alarming prospect of losing its ambulance service, a lifeline for many rural residents. This situation highlights a significant healthcare disparity that faces many rural locations. I urge everyone to watch this local news story on the situation in New Athens from KSDK. It is a stark reminder of the challenges we face and the work that needs to be done. On a personal note, my grandparents are from New Athens, and I spent a lot of my youth visiting. 🔹 The Issue: In rural areas, access to healthcare services is already limited. The potential loss of ambulance services in New Athens is a stark example of this disparity, leaving residents without timely access to emergency care. This gap puts lives at risk and underscores the broader challenges faced by rural communities in accessing essential healthcare services. 🔹 The Impact: For many rural residents, ambulance services are not just a convenience; they are a necessity. Without these services, residents will face prolonged wait times in emergencies, which can be the difference between life and death. Now, imagine a similarly sized town located 150-200 miles from St. Louis, even further removed from critical healthcare infrastructure. The disparities become even more pronounced, with residents experiencing even longer wait times and greater risks in medical emergencies. 🔹 A Call to Action: We must advocate for better healthcare infrastructure in rural areas. This includes ensuring reliable ambulance services, investing in telehealth solutions, and supporting policies that address the unique challenges faced by rural healthcare systems. By leveraging technology and community resources, we can bridge the gap and provide equitable healthcare access to all. 🔹 St. Louis as a Healthcare Hub: I firmly believe that St. Louis has the potential to become a central hub for healthcare innovation, not just for Missouri but also for Southern Illinois. By developing robust Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) programs and preventative care models, we can significantly reduce healthcare disparities. These programs can provide continuous, real-time health data to medical professionals, ensuring timely interventions and reducing the need for emergency services. Additionally, using technology to bridge the gap makes it possible to deliver high-quality preventative care, leading to better health outcomes and reducing the burden on emergency services. Lastly, technology only works with a good model and best practice behind it! Let's come together to support our rural communities and advocate for the necessary changes to provide equitable healthcare access for all. Your engagement and support can make a difference. #RuralHealthcare #HealthEquity #EmergencyServices #Telehealth #CommunitySupport #HealthcareDisparities #NewAthens #MetroEast #SupportRuralCommunities #RPM #HealthcareInnovation #StLouis #PreventativeCare

Why I Co-Founded Health Equities RPM: Bridging Gaps in Maternal and Infant Health Last night, as I attended the 106th annual dinner for the Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis, I was reminded of the profound community spirit that drives this entire region. The evening was not just a celebration of their achievements; for me, it was a reaffirmation of my commitment to health equity—a mission deeply personal to me. In my current role at the VA, I've been privileged to work on projects aimed at eliminating healthcare disparities, especially in underserved rural communities. However, the staggering statistics surrounding maternal and infant mortality rates in the U.S. compelled me to do more. Inspired by my late grandfather, who taught me the values of community and giving back through his actions, I co-founded Health Equities RPM to fight against health inequity. Health Equities RPM is not just another entity looking to navigate the complexities of healthcare alone. Instead, we aim to integrate our efforts into the fabric of existing initiatives, supporting and amplifying the incredible work already being done by organizations like the Urban League and many others around St. Louis. Our focus is on leveraging digital health innovations combined with culturally competent care models that are community-focused to enhance maternal and infant health and improve outcomes. Part of this vision involves empowering women to take charge of their health and that of their communities because nobody understands women’s needs better. Empowering women means giving them a voice and truly listening to them. I've met with numerous organizations willing to collaborate on this vital issue, and each conversation has been a reminder of the potential we have to make a significant impact together. Our approach is not to replace but to supplement, to add strength and innovation to the groundwork laid by those who have been champions of this cause long before us. I invite you to join this journey. If you share our vision of transforming maternal and infant health through collaboration and innovation, let’s connect. Together, we can ensure that every mother and child has the chance to thrive. Connect with us and let's make a difference together. The only way forward is a united front; silos and fragmented efforts don't work. #Collaboration #HealthEquity #MaternalHealth #InfantHealth #CommunityHealth #WomenInHealthcare #HealthcareInnovation #DigitalHealth #StLouis #STL #STLHealth #STLCommunity #STLStrong #StLouisProud #STLMade Raymond Alexander Sales, Sr., JD, LLM co-founder, mentor, and proud to call him friend.

A step in the right direction for #womenshealth 👏 https://lnkd.in/erHvFddH

Did you know that 54% of #RuralHospitals in Missouri don't offer labor and delivery services? #MaternalHealth #InfantHealth https://lnkd.in/giZ-zZr3