On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared novel coronavirus disease 2019 (otherwise known as COVID-19) to be a global pandemic. As we reflect on the past year and the path forward to recovery, the BHC is pleased to launch a special three-part podcast series on “Building Resilience in a Post-Pandemic World.” For our first episode, we will be discussing the role social determinants in driving health outcomes, the impact of COVID-19 on health disparities, and opportunities for businesses to address these factors for greater organizational and individual well-being.

Evidence shows that having a primary care doctor can produce high-value results, including better patient outcomes, fewer inequities, and lower overall costs. But despite these benefits, primary care investment is lagging in the United States, leading to lower numbers of family medicine physicians and general internists, compared to other medical specialties. In light of this PCP shortage, employers are seeking out innovative strategies to improve primary care access for their workforces, including preventive care, disease management, and treatment of acute injuries and illnesses.

In this episode of the Be Health Connected podcast we discuss a new model of concierge, direct primary care in St. Louis with our guests, Dr. Jeffrey Davis, Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Physician, and Dr. Erica Yalavarthi, Board-Certified Family Medicine Physician, of Link Primary Care.

February is American Heart Month, a time to increase awareness about the impact of cardiovascular disease in the United States and consider opportunities to prevent and better manage this condition. Despite widespread public health efforts, heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S., responsible for nearly 655,000 fatalities (or 1 in every 4 deaths) each year.

With high blood pressure being a major and preventable risk factor for heart disease, this episode of the BHC's Be Health Connected podcast focuses on the Surgeon General’s recent Call to Action to Control Hypertension, and specifically, opportunities for employers to take action through medical and pharmacy plan coverage, environmental supports, and well-being programs.

As the incidence of type 2 diabetes increases globally, the fight against this chronic disease continues. And while countless programs are on the market to help patients prevent or manage their condition, research now exists that suggests reversal is possible. Though it may not be achievable for everyone with type 2 diabetes, it is an exciting option for some.

In June 2013, the American Medical Association voted to recognize obesity as a disease, a decision that was expected to improve research efforts, align insurance coverage and provider reimbursement, and remove the stigma commonly attributed to poor lifestyle behaviors. Years later, however, many of these goals remain to be unseen, with obesity prevalence continuing to rise across the U.S. population.

When it comes to managing diabetes, physical health is only part of the equation. Those with diabetes have an increased risk of developing depression and poor mental health, and, like a revolving door, those suffering from depression may have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes.  In today’s world of isolation and uncertainty, addressing the connection between mental and physical well-being is more relevant than ever in building a resilient and healthy workforce. This includes the role of stress and anxiety in promoting poor behaviors that increase the risk for weight gain and the development of diabetes, prediabetes, and other chronic diseases.

Introduced by the American Diabetes Association in 2001, prediabetes remains an unfamiliar clinical term for many, despite its increasing prevalence in our country. In fact, prediabetes is now the second most common chronic disease (after overweight/obesity) in the United States, with nearly 84 million adults believed to be afflicted. But how is this condition impacting our local region, and what can organizations and individuals do to address it?