Montefiore Medical Group (Montefiore) is the largest health care provider in one of the poorest parts of the country, serving more than 300,000 people in the Bronx, New York. The Bronx leads New York State in premature deaths in people under age 65, with the leading causes including preventable illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and AIDS. Montefiore’s goal is to make care as easy, seamless, and comprehensive as possible, meeting patients in settings ranging from primary care clinics to specialty surgery centers and mobile medical vans. However, Montefiore recognizes that its patients face more than just logistical barriers to care. For Miguelina Germán, PhD, Assistant Director of the Pediatric Behavioral Health Integration Program at Montefiore Medical Group, the missing link between the care she provides and the persistently high rates of illness among her patients clearly comes down to pervasive trauma and a stressful living environment in an area with the highest poverty rate in New York City.

This profile highlights how Montefiore is adopting principles of trauma-informed care and implementing universal screening for adverse childhood experiences throughout its 21-practice outpatient care network.