YOUR Turning Pie-in -Th
e-Sky Healthcar
e
GOALS INTO
by Steve Gamel
Reality
I
t was October 2018, and Nancy Bledsoe-Link, Licensed Professional Counselor and Lead Therapist, was meeting the team of clinicians at Connections Wellness Group in Denton for the first time. Everyone said all the right things — they spoke of purposeful growth, breeding a culture where employees and patients thrive, and having an unapologetic vision to reinvent the healthcare wheel. Nancy felt like she’d fit right in. But as she left, but there was just one problem. “I thought, ‘I believe these people; I see their heart. But it has to be too good to be true,’” Nancy said. We’ve all been that skeptical new employee. Sometimes, everything works out fine. But more often than not, there are chinks in the organization’s armor. Lofty goals aren’t met. Customer service lags. Employees aren’t in the right roles, nor do they feel 100% supported. Even if everyone’s mindset is pure and a vision is in plain sight, they struggle to push the mark forward. This is especially true in healthcare. So, when a place like Connections Wellness grows rapidly while touting a model that’s never been done before, people think things will eventually go awry. What Connections Wellness Group does works because their internal culture of
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having employees feel supported and encouraged created a unique springboard where they’ve bred an even greater passion for the work they do. “Our passion is to be a hope and a light for the population we serve,” said Molly Garcia, Associate Administrator and Chair for Connections Wellness’ Primary Care Board. “Even during their most vulnerable times, our patients know that they are not alone. The vision is that we can be that sole provider for every patient we see.” The vision at Connections Wellness has always been to be that place where, with one phone call, a patient can be treated for everything from mental health and family counseling to primary care and nutritional wellness. And they continue to expand their services to meet a full wellness model. They have a trusted and experienced psychiatry team and a dynamic team of therapists who provide play therapy, individual, couples and family counseling. Recently, they introduced Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy to serve those patients who have not successfully responded to medication management in the treatment of their depression. Connections Wellness also added a Registered Dietitian to the team, who specializes in nutritional well-being,
Business Spotlight furthering their approach to providing a holistic healthcare model. Their reach, services, and partnerships have patients believing they’ve found their forever care provider. Jaylia Rentfro, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Lead Therapist, said clinicians are encouraged to be creative and thoughtful in both their visions and approach with clients. “I’ve worked at places where it is lip service,” Rentfro said. “We got into this profession to chase our calling in life, and this is the environment I’ve always envisioned doing mine.” Shae Reid, LPC, Certified Sex Therapist, and Lead Therapist said what they’ve created is a trickle-down effect where employees are emotionally and mentally open to giving back to patients in the most meaningful ways. “We have heartbeat check-ins, which are used to see how we are doing,” she said. “We get whatever we need, and I think that gives all of us a boost.” And exceed those pie-in-the-sky goals every day.
940.222.2399
ConnectionsWelln
essGroup.com 2701 Shoreline Dr., Ste. 151 Denton, TX 76210
JULY 2020 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 13
