Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1499641
10 | Health Matters: Providence St. Mary Medical Center Caregiver Spotlight on Erica Phillips Erica Phillips manages the Community Health Investment programs. She began her Providence St. Mary Medical Center career in 2021, bringing with her the years of experience she gained while working in similar roles in the Midwest and on the East Coast. That work centers not on the care provided in the hospital proper but on the resources and programs available to High Desert residents that are designed to keep them and their loved ones healthy. Where did you work, and what roles did you hold, before joining Providence St. Mary? Before joining, I was: • a senior regional community health manager for a health system in northern Michigan • the Healthy Communities coordinator for a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant held by the Virginia Department of Health • a health program specialist with Anthem HealthKeepers Plus (Medicaid), where I was charged with developing and implementing programs aimed at increasing clinical– community linkages and other quality programs to prevent chronic diseases and increase management of them. How do you define your role? What are your responsibilities? Health happens everywhere, not just within Providence St. Mary's four walls. Often when people think of health, doctors and care provided in medical facilities come to mind. But the community in which a person lives, works, plays and worships—coupled with the resources they have at hand—can have the greatest impact on their health and ability to prevent or treat a condition. As a result, Providence St. Mary is increasing focus on how healthy it can keep patients. The collective efforts of the South Division's Community Health Investment Department—and the emphasis of my role—are to nurture this effort by ensuring our activities and services address the needs of our patients and community. What services does Community Health Investment provide? The Community Health Investment Department, along with Providence St. Mary, provides multiple services. As recipients of various grants, we work on meeting the community's needs, which are identified in our Community Health Needs Assessment every three years. Those include access to care, mental health, homelessness and obesity. What makes Community Health Investment at Providence ministries unique in the world of health care? The work of Community Health Investment is an extension of Providence's values and mission, which, in part, is to serve the poor and vulnerable. It is also a snapshot of our vision of "health for a better world." What is the most rewarding part of your job? My caregivers, for without them nothing would be possible. Visit providence.org/about/ community-partnerships/ community-health-investment to learn more about Community Health Investment and its programs and services. Meet Dr. Anjit Khurana Anjit Khurana, MD, serves as medical director for St. Mary High Desert Medical Group's urgent care locations in Apple Valley and Victorville. After earning his degree in India, Dr. Khurana completed his residency in family medicine in Texas. He has been practicing for nearly ten years, six of which have been with the High Desert urgent cares. What is your philosophy on treating patients? Always treat patients with dignity, respect and sensitivity. They come to physicians when they are feeling their lowest, seeking help for their well-being, be it physical or mental. So it is important to be sensitive and respectful of their needs. What is your favorite part of the job? My favorite part is that I am working in a field that fulfills my passion to help those in need. I also enjoy working with my colleagues and office staff. Are there any new advancements in your field that you're excited about? In the medical field, any practice line is always evolving and advancing. For our urgent cares in particular, we have been constantly thinking about expanding the services we provide, which will allow us to touch more lives and help more people. What would your profession be had you not become a doctor? If I hadn't become a doctor, I would have been an interior designer, an artist (mostly abstract designs), a food traveler, a fitness trainer or a stand-up comedian (I have a lot of dad jokes). What do you do for fun when you're not working? I love building Legos. I also enjoy spending time with my family, whether it's watching TV, dining out or doing crafts with my daughter.