The St. Louis Integrated Health Network (IHN) has a rich and dynamic history. Our story is one of resilience, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to improving the health of our community.
“The founders of IHN were truly visionary. They created an entity with the ability to effectively advocate for the underserved in healthcare. In 2003, that idea was groundbreaking for St. Louis.”
Angela Clabon, CEO, CareSTL Health
Our Founding
In October 2003, the St. Louis Regional Health Commission recommended that safety net providers form a permanent regional network to improve access to care, enhance quality of care, achieve cost efficiencies, and optimize patient outcomes through integrated services.
This recommendation was a call to action, and it was answered by a federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which supported the creation of such a network.
By November of that year, administrators from the area’s largest outpatient safety net providers gathered at the first organizational meeting of the St. Louis Integrated Health Network (IHN).
The Evolution of IHN
Our journey didn’t stop there. In 2004, IHN established workgroups to plan for increased coordination and integration of safety net services. The impact of these efforts has been significant, leading to substantial improvements in the quality and accessibility of healthcare for St. Louis’ most medically vulnerable citizens.
Over the years, IHN has evolved to become a healthcare intermediary implementing numerous initiatives and strategies to improve healthcare access.
We reached a milestone in 2017 when our Board of Directors officially approved our guiding principles, which serve as our compass, highlighting our priorities and acting as a foundation for the plans set forth by our dedicated team.
Today, our membership partners and collaborators include the leaders of community health centers, hospital systems, academic medical schools, public health departments, and other safety net institutions.
Together, we collaborate across institutional boundaries to co-create and advance a common agenda focused on developing solutions that improve the quality, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare for St. Louis’ most medically vulnerable citizens.
Our Ongoing Commitment
The past, present, and future of the St. Louis Integrated Health Network will always be rooted in community. As a trusted partner, we are mere stewards of their goodwill, holding ourselves and those with whom we partner accountable as we continue the journey to health equity.
Our work is far from over, and we remain committed to advancing health equity and improving wellbeing by increasing access to health and social services — especially in communities that have been historically excluded.