Where Health is More Than Your Lab Results

Latinos Salud’s hugely popular Food Bazaar last month in the parking lot at their Wilton Manors community clinic was just the latest demonstration of the agency’s holistic focus on health.

In between bites of home-cooked dishes, each prepared by Latinos Salud’s own staff and members, and each showcasing the cuisine from one of a dozen different countries and territories, OutClique magazine asked the agency’s leaders about what had led them to center a holistic health approach in all the services they offer.

“Your health is more than your lab results,” said Dr. Stephen Fallon, the agency’s co-founder and Executive Director. “Of course, testing and screening are the foundation of our services. Our providers and staff use lab results to effectively diagnose and then treat everything from diabetes to HIV. But you don’t live in a test tube, and your condition is not your identity.”

Co-founder and Director of Health Programs, Rafaelé Narváez, added that the person-centered cultural norms that the agency’s staff activate each day play a critical role in the remarkable success of Latinos Salud’s patients and clients. “It’s second nature in many Latino cultures to focus first on you as a person, not as a problem to be solved. You feel respected and calm right from the start when you enter our doors, from the smile that first welcomes you to the clean and spacious foyer in each of our locations.”

Latinos Salud’s patients are more likely to stick to their health goals because, at every step, they know that they’re not in it alone. Staff reach out to support their clients and patients regularly, not just to schedule the next appointment.

If you’ve ever spent too long in a cramped waiting room, felt your concerns were brushed aside by your medical provider, or felt too embarrassed to call when confused about medical instructions, then you were probably at a clinic that does not use a holistic approach. Latinos Salud sets the benchmark for holistic screening and care; it goes beyond merely respecting your time, it’s about relating to you.

From their North Miami location, Health and Culture Specialist Angel Virla maintains a WhatsApp group of nearly 300 Latinos Salud members, who are as likely to dish about a binge-watchable TV show or upcoming concert as they are to ask about a health concern. “Some members tell us that this constant connection has made them feel less alone, more appreciated. We’re not just calling to lecture them to take their PrEP or HIV meds.”

Community events are the most visible form of Latinos Salud’s holistic approach. Latinos Salud hosts multiple events each month that bring members together, whether to kayak on the Intracoastal, belt out their best karaoke song, learn to dance in heels, attend a play, or enjoy the tactile expression in painting or sculpting classes.

Just like the savory scent of a favorite dish can linger long after a meal, the warm vibe at each of Latinos Salud’s community clinics brings people back and improves health outcomes for the community.